Information on sex and abortion needed<\/p>\n
Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A noted abortion expert said on Wednesday the high number of
\nmaternal deaths from unsafe abortions was partly the fault of the
\nmedia, which has failed to educate the public about the issue.<\/p>\n
The national media, according to Kartono Muhammad, often
\nportrays premarital sex and abortion as moral issues, and
\nsensationalizes these issues to sell papers and attract viewers.<\/p>\n
\"Most media outrageously portray women who have abortions as
\ncriminals. The media certainly plays a major role in the people's
\nignorance about abortion,\" said Kartono.<\/p>\n
Abortions are illegal in Indonesia, except in cases where the
\nmother's life is at risk if she carries the fetus to full term.<\/p>\n
He said he had seen many abortions where the fetus had reached
\nfull term. \"In those cases, abortion in fact becomes infanticide
\nand is very dangerous to the mother.\"<\/p>\n
Research by Dr. Biran Affandi in 2000 and Dr. Budi Utomo in
\n2001 showed that between 1.5 million and two million abortions
\nare performed across the country each year.<\/p>\n
According to data from the Women's Health Foundation (YKP),
\nunsafe abortions account for about 11.1 percent of total maternal
\ndeaths.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health said earlier that maternal deaths
\nresulting from abortions accounted for about 50 percent of all
\nmaternal deaths.<\/p>\n
The maternal mortality rate in Indonesia is 370 per 1,000
\nbirths, the highest among the member states of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations. ASEAN comprises Malaysia, Singapore,
\nThailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia,
\nBrunei and Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Unsafe abortion refers to abortions performed with inadequate
\nequipment by traditional midwives. Such procedures often occur in
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
Kartono, however, disputed the figures, saying many more women
\ndied because of unsafe abortions than reported. He said many of
\nthese deaths went unreported by those involved.<\/p>\n
A recent study by the YKP found that the majority of women
\nseeking abortions were married, over the age of 30 and already
\nhad children.<\/p>\n
Kartono suggested that more information on sex and abortion
\nshould be given to the public by the media, to help reduce the
\nnumber of deaths as a result of unsafe abortions.<\/p>\n
\"The media should be aware that abortion is no longer a moral
\nissue, but is rather about facing the truth and safety,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the public was still in denial about the fact
\nthat society had become more permissive.<\/p>\n
\"Most Indonesians are against abortion, as long as it does not
\nhappen to them or their families,\" Kartono said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/information-on-sex-and-abortion-needed-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}