Abortion and attempted abortion are illegal in Côte d’Ivoire according to Articles 425 and 426 of the new Penal Code of 2019. However, abortion does not constitute an offense in two situations: rape and when pregnancy poses a danger to the patient (Article 427).
The Penal Code also prohibits any incitement of abortion through public discussion, advertisement, or the sale of various substances and products.
Abortion is legal in Côte d’Ivoire if it’s done to save the life of the woman. In addition, three physicians need to certify that the life of the women can only be saved with an abortion.
It should be noted that Post-Abortion Care (PAC) services are legal, though implementation and access remains mired by challenges.
Côte d’Ivoire offers medical and surgical abortion services.
For a Medical Abortion (MA), only MisoFem or Mifegyne remain available in pharmacies. Cytotec was withdrawn from pharmacies in 2017.³
The surgical procedure available is a Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA), preceded by dilation of the cervix.
Legal abortion services can be performed either by a gynecologist, gynecologist-surgeon, or general practitioner; however, the process is costly. In addition, religious, social, and provider stigma deter many women from seeking out these services.
Safe and legal abortions can be performed in Côte d’Ivoire at registered public and private health facilities.
Note:
Please try to ensure your chosen provider is registered and trained to perform an abortion
The price of an abortion in Côte d’Ivoire depends on the type of abortion as well as the provider. A surgical abortion procedure can cost between 150,000 F CFA -200,000 F CFA. However, some health clinics charge as much as 300,000 F CFA and 350,000 F CFA , depending on the additional services available. In public health institutions, an authorized abortion is free.
The pill pack of four MisoFem pills can cost between 1,010 F CFA and 2,000 F CFA.
The government has included Misoprostol on the list of essential medicines that can be used for delivery or to evacuate abortion remains. Though not registered for abortion, Misoprostol is commonly used to induce an abortion.
MisoFem and Mifegyne can be purchased from pharmacies in Côte d’Ivoire; however, an accompanying prescription may be required. Prices will vary between pharmacies.
Note:
Many pharmacists do sell the pills without a prescription, however they do not often provide proper instructions on eligibility, dosage, and usage for a medical abortion. Please refer to the following page on our website for comprehensive instructions on how to use the abortion pill: https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/howto/.
The most common brand name for abortion pills in Côte d’Ivoire is MisoFem.
This is what the MisoFem abortion pill looks like:
Price 1 005 XOF
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