Annual abortion rate reaches 2m

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