JAKARTA: At least 2.5mn abortions are performed annually in Indonesia, although the practice is illegal in the predominantly Muslim country, state-run media reported yesterday.
“The figure does not yet include abortions effected with non-medical assistance,” Jurnalis Uddin, a professor at the Jakarta-based YARSI University was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.
Uddin claimed that research conducted at medical facilities had led to the conclusion practice of illegal abortions needs to be given serious attention by the government and society.
Research done by the World Health Organisation showed 20 to 60% of abortions in Indonesia were induced abortions and 50% of the cases were in urban areas, he added.
In urban areas, 70% of the cases were conducted in stealth by medical practitioners, while in rural areas 84% of the cases were performed by shaman, Uddin said.
Most of the women who had abortions were in the 20-29 age bracket, he said, adding that rape-induced pregnancy, detected genetic defect in the foetus and socioeconomic conditions were among the reasons given. – DPA |
