Abortions in two Philippine hospitals

ABSTRACT

Findings in this study point clearly to the fact that compared to our findings in 1969 at PGH and Sta. Rosa, an increasing number of Filipino women are desperate enough to terminate unwanted pregnancies in a manner that poses hazards to health and even life. In a survey, conducted in barrios in Cavite, twelve percent of respondents who had induced abortions said that they sought hospitalization." In these barrios, therefore, for every hospital admission for induced abortion, one can expect about seven other cases in the community. Considering that a city like Manila can be expected to have more sophisticated clinics, it is quite possible that for every hospital case, a larger number of pregnancies have been successfully terminated in the communityCompared to women with spontaneous abortion, women who have induced abortions are mostly married have fewer children, and do not want an additional child or prefer only one. The subtantial increase in contraceptive acceptors after abortion means that contraception has great potential for preventing illegal abortions. More efforts should be taken to inform women of the dangers of induced abortion and the longer and more expensive hospitalization following complications. Education of all post-abortal cases on the wisdom of using contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancy should be made a part of routine advice given before obstetric clinic/hospital discharge. Women who express or hint rejection of pregnancy and unwed mothers should get special attention because of their vulnerability to deliberate termination of pregnancy. More social services should be established to help mothers continue unwanted pregnancies to term and to help them place the babies for care. The church should take an active role and positive steps in youth and marriage counselling; in encouraging prevention of irresponsible childbearing; and in providing services for rejected children. It is not enough to talk about the evils of abortion and un-natural methods of contraception; it is everyones responsibility to seek and try strategies for preventing unwanted pregnancies and induced abortion. If we do not act, the problem may become a question of conception control of abortion?(Conclusions)