Abortion in Abortion in the the

Philippines: Philippines: Reasons and Reasons and ResponsibilitResponsibilit

iesies

Aileen Grace DelimaAileen Grace Delima

“The State

recognizes the sanctity of family life

shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution.

It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception..”

-Article II, Section 12Article II, Section 12 of Philippine of Philippine Constitution-Constitution-

Legal Basis of AbortionLegal Basis of Abortion

Revised Penal Revised Penal Code of the Code of the Philippines Philippines (1930)(1930) Articles 256, Articles 256,

258, 259 258, 259 House Bill 6343 House Bill 6343 United Nations United Nations

Unintended Unintended pregnancy is the pregnancy is the root cause of root cause of abortion. abortion.

Prevalence of AbortionPrevalence of Abortion

Figure 1. Nearly half of pregnancies each year end in an induced abortion or an unplanned birth.

Figure 3. Between 1994 and 2000, abortion rates did not change much nationally, but they increased in Metro Manila and Visayas.

The majority of women The majority of women having abortions are:having abortions are:

Nine in 10 have ever been married or in a consensual union.

The majority of women The majority of women having abortions are:having abortions are:

More than half have at least three children.

The majority of women The majority of women having abortions are:having abortions are:

Roughly two-thirds are poor.

The majority of women The majority of women having abortions are:having abortions are:

Nearly 90% are Catholic.

The majority of women The majority of women having abortions are:having abortions are:

Seven in 10 have at least some high school education.

ReasonsReasons Economic cost Economic cost Family planningFamily planning HealthHealth Rape incestRape incest AgeAge Society’s Society’s

moralismmoralism

Fig.3. Both poor and nonpoor women seeking abortion are concerned with the high cost of raising children.

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

All stakeholders:All stakeholders: this means taking this means taking

the necessary the necessary steps to address steps to address this problem. this problem.

Addressing the ProblemAddressing the Problem

Young people, as well as adults, Young people, as well as adults, need: need: complete and accurate informationcomplete and accurate information

on reproductive health and on reproductive health and contraception, contraception,

the risks of unsafe abortion, the risks of unsafe abortion, health and societal benefits of family health and societal benefits of family planningplanning

Addressing the ProblemAddressing the Problem

Policymakers must:Policymakers must: clarify the legal and medical clarify the legal and medical

grounds grounds on which abortion may be allowed on which abortion may be allowed

Addressing the ProblemAddressing the Problem

Increased use of effective Increased use of effective contraceptives contraceptives help achieve desired family help achieve desired family

sizesizerequire knowledge, access and require knowledge, access and

government funding government funding

Addressing the ProblemAddressing the Problem

Increased resources should be Increased resources should be directeddirected at improving the quality of at improving the quality of

postabortion carepostabortion careby expanding services such as:by expanding services such as:PMAC (Prevention and PMAC (Prevention and

Management of Abortion and its Management of Abortion and its Complications) programComplications) program

Addressing the ProblemAddressing the Problem

To receive the care To receive the care that women need:that women need: medical professionals medical professionals

should be trainedshould be trained carry out the full carry out the full

range of reproductive range of reproductive health serviceshealth services

In Davao CityIn Davao City

absence of comprehensive local absence of comprehensive local health ordinancehealth ordinance

increase unwanted pregnancies increase unwanted pregnancies and alcoholism and alcoholism

abortion and early marriages abortion and early marriages among youthamong youth

aborted fetuses dumped in trash aborted fetuses dumped in trash binsbins

Plans…Plans… Provisions to provide women with Provisions to provide women with

pre- and post-natal care pre- and post-natal care Provide reproductive health and Provide reproductive health and

rights educationrights education Reproductive Health Care Act:Reproductive Health Care Act:

establishment of a Reproductive Health establishment of a Reproductive Health ClinicClinic

reproductive health education program reproductive health education program for women and men for women and men

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