Induced abortion, a reality
Induced abortion is a highly controversial and sensitive subject that most people, especially women, would not wish to talk about. It is an act deemed morally wrong and under Philippine laws is considered a crime. Yet, recent studies point to the fact that Filipino women of varied social strata, religious affiliation and backgrounds resort to induced abortion.
The mounting cases of abortion in the country have become a medical and social concern. A research study shows that there is an estimated 473,000 induced abortions happening in the country annually or roughly 27 per 1,000 women ages 15-44, while 80,000 women are hospitalized yearly from complications of induced abortion. The Department of Health reports that 12 percent of all maternal deaths in 1994 were the result of illegal abortion (Shire A and Pesso L., 2003).
Past and recent studies reveal that despite the laws severity, abortion continues to be practiced, unabated, under varying conditions. This may range from safe medical procedures performed for better off women by trained medical practitioners to unsafe procedures done to poor women who cannot afford to pay for surgical abortion.
Filipino women, because of inability to access family planning services turn to abortion to terminate an unplanned pregnancy. The Allan Guttmatcher Institute -- UPPI study conducted in 2002 to 2005 show that Filipino women who resorted to induced abortion could not avail of modern family planning because of the high cost of contraceptives, the social and psychological stigma attached to artificial methods, prejudice of the husband and misconceptions about modern family planning.
According to the National Demographic and Health Survey of 2003, although contraceptive use has increased from 48 percent in 1998 to 49 percent in 2003 unmeet need for Contraception still remain at a little over 50 percent. The National Capital Region registered the highest increase in the use of traditional methods at 49.9 percent, but also recorded the highest number of induced abortions by 33.72 percent from 104,585 in 1994 to 139,853 in 2000. One of three pregnancies in Metro Manila result in abortion. While the Visayas experienced a decrease in the use of modern methods, induced abortion was estimated to have increased by 62.5 percent from 34,475 in 1994 to 56,022 in 2000. This clearly indicates that there remains a need for Family Planning that has to be addressed. This is substantiated by the 2003 NDHS that further show the total fertility rate of women at 3.5 as against the wanted fertility rate of 2.5 which indicates that women still continue to have one child more than they want to have.
In a study conducted by UGSAD, the Regional Gender Resource Center in Western Visayas, in five hospitals in Iloilo City, there were 682 women ages 15-45 admitted for complications in 2002. This accounts to only about 1 percent of the total number of admissions of 73,076 in the five hospitals and much lower than the 200 cases a month or more than 6 cases daily of induced abortion admissions in the Philippine General Hospital. However the numbers mentioned may not totally speak of the actual extent of abortion. Some women who had abortion complications may not see the need to obtain hospital treatment perhaps because of the clandestine nature and the social stigma attached to it. Only one out of every five women who had abortion complications seek medical treatment (Perez, et al., 1999).
The UGSAD study on abortion cases in Iloilo City hospitals included admissions from the city proper and adjacent municipalities. By place of residence, 51 percent of abortion admissions were from the urban and abut 46 percent were from the rural. This reality could be linked to the unmet need for family planning of Western Visayas of 19.5 (2003 NDHS) and the high total fertility rate of 4.0 as against the wanted fertility rate of only 2.7. Succinctly, there is an unmet need for family planning services.
On the ages of women admitted for abortion complications in Iloilo City hospitals, the highest rate were registered between the ages 31-35 years old (23.90%). Almost 75 percent were over 25 years old and there was notable decline after age 35 (26.69% for ages below 25 and 26.25% for above 35). The UGSAD study showed 7.92 percent abortion rate for women below 20 years old. These findings may contradict the common notion that abortion incidence was prevalent among young women 15-24 years old who are ill-prepared to become mothers. The number of students who had abortion complications was relatively small at 2.17 but was significant finding. The study noted that 7 out of 10 of these women have had high school or college education and majority were poor.
The State of the Philippine Population Report II (Pinoy Youth) of 2003revealed that young pregnancies account for 30 percent of all births, 6 percent of spontaneous abortions, 3 out of 4 maternal deaths, 74 percent of illegitimate births. Four out of ten abortion complication cases were from the youth. This was further supported by the POPCOM, Region study on illegitimate Births in Western Visayas. The study showed that 23.1 percent of illegitimate births happened to women ages 15-19 years old and 40.9 percent among women 20-24 years old. Quite a dismal picture for the young population who are vulnerable to sexually risky behaviors.
The persistent opposition of some religious sector on the practice of Family Planning is being cited by studies and researches as a hindrance to the efficient and effective implementation of the program. Despite the church's strong advocacy against artificial contraception in Iloilo City, of the 682 women hospitalized for abortion complications, 82.02 percent are Roman Catholics. This strongly supports the Guttmacher-UPPI study that reported a greater proportion of Catholics still resort to abortion, than those belonging to other religions.
The growing and alarming incidence of abortion is a reality that needs urgent measures in order to protect the lives of women as well as the unborn. Reports of fetuses found in garbage cans, public toilets and river banks of Iloilo City and elsewhere in the country are testimonies of the alarming incidence of induced abortion. The women remain faceless but the spectre stares us in the face. Induced abortion is real and if ignored can endanger the lives of women. The sad fact remains that a fetus that is aborted is unwanted.