Induced abortion in Indonesia

Abstract

This report presents a brief review of the evolution of pregnancy termination services in this, the fourth most populous country, and largest Muslim society, in the world. A judicial interpretation in the early 1970s permitted medical professionals to offer the procedure so long as they were discreet and careful. The numbers of medical abortions carried out in Indonesia rose dramatically, and there was evidence of matching declines in the incidence of morbidity and mortality caused by dangerous illegal procedures. Medical and community groups campaigned for a more liberal abortion law, but when the Health Law was passed by the legislature in late 1992, the issue was again clouded by contradictions and inconsistencies. -from Authors Show more