Legalized abortion and free sex

Legalized abortion and free sex

From Republika

Indonesia's maternal and infant mortality is the highest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, reaching 307 per 100,000 live births. Directly contributing to the rate are hemorrhage (28 percent), eclampsia (13 percent), abortion (11 percent) and sepsis (10 percent).

With unsafe or illegal abortion sharing 11 percent of the death rate, some people in public circles are wanting legal protection through the legalization of abortion.

The amendment of Law No.23/1992 on women's reproductive health is sought because some articles are considered unfavorable to women. For example, abortion as a result of free sex is unsafe because the existing rule only concerns married women.

It is alarming to note that 58 percent of 2,558 cases of abortion were practiced on predominantly unmarried girls aged 15- 24. The present permissive lifestyles and hedonistic culture have led them to free association with the opposite sex.

Legalized abortion may reduce the death rate but as long as the main cause of this mortality is not overcome, the change will not be significant. The worst effect of legalization will be more widespread free-sex activity and increased transmission of HIV/AIDS.

FARHAH ANISAA Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan