Annual abortion rate reaches 2m

BENGKULU: The National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) disclosed on Tuesday that the number of abortions carried out annually had reached two million cases.

BKKBN head Sumaryati Arjoso said many women had died of severe bleeding from abortions.

Teenagers and also married women had abortions, but most had them performed at questionable clinics run by quack doctors.

Sumaryati said the high number of abortions clearly indicated that people did not use contraceptives, even though many people understood the family planning program, possibly because of a lack of direct access to contraceptives.

Although the government has provided free contraceptives to the poor, medical staff often asked for payment in exchange, prompting people to resort to abortion, she said. -- Antara