This news article delves into the alarming rise of illegal abortion practices in Malaysia, exposing the dangers women face and the need for urgent action.
Illegal abortion practices at private clinics, while presenting a 'quick fix' for some facing economic hardships, carry significant risks for women, including death from prolonged bleeding. Despite legal prohibitions, these clinics offer the procedure as a clandestine service, often for a fee, catering to women desperate to avoid pregnancy, whether married or unmarried. This situation exacerbates Malaysia's already high unmet need for family planning, with roughly 26.
7% of women in 2022 indicating a lack of access to modern contraceptive methods. This highlights a concerning trend where over one in five Malaysian women who are not ready for pregnancy forgo contraception.According to Dr. Wan Noorasmara Mohd. Nor, Vice President of the Malaysian Islamic Doctors Association (Perdim), this issue requires serious attention from all stakeholders. While medical reasons may justify abortion, illegal termination poses severe health risks. Aside from the risk of hemorrhage, women may experience uterine prolapse, where the uterus descends into the vagina, often a consequence of unsafe abortions. These procedures can also result in uterine scarring, leading to recurrent pregnancy loss and difficulty conceiving. Dr. Wan Noorasmara emphasizes that private clinics are prohibited from performing abortions unless authorized by two registered Obstetrician and Gynecologist (O&G) specialists. The situation underscores the need for comprehensive sex education, increased access to family planning services, and stricter enforcement against illegal abortion providers. It also emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying societal pressures that contribute to women resorting to unsafe practices. Dr. Wan Noorasmara points out that legal exceptions for abortion exist in cases where the mother's life is at risk, such as uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension leading to seizures, or when the fetus has severe anomalies incompatible with life. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with expert medical consultation. She stresses that abortion procedures should only be conducted in hospitals equipped for complications. The potential for bleeding and other complications is significantly higher in unregulated settings, leading to what she describes as 'silent deaths' where women face fatal consequences without receiving proper medical attention.Malaysia's statistics paint a grim picture: 44,263 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the past five years, with 17,646 involving unmarried teenagers. Dr. Wan Noorasmara links this trend to the growing prevalence of unsafe abortions in private clinics, highlighting a cycle that perpetuates both teenage pregnancy and risky health practices.
ABORTION HEALTH RISKS MALAYSIA FAMILY PLANNING LEGISLATION PREGNANCY CLINICS
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