Tan, Fatima Alisah B.
BSN 1 - E
Position Paper: Abortion
Abortion is a medical procedure that ends pregnancy. In the Philippines, due to
several factors many young adults experience unexpected pregnancies that
consequently result in them finally deciding to get an abortion. Abortion can be done by
both professional and non-professional health care providers. Although it is difficult to
find ways to pursue the procedure, the fact that abortion can end their problem with their
families and the society, young adults still choose abortion as a good decision for a way
out. Abortion is an act that is not acceptable to Philippine society considering its laws
and culture. Abortion is killing a life that is yet to start in this world hence it becomes a
criminal act to the beliefs of many people. However, there are many states in the United
States who have legalized abortion. Decriminalizing abortion in the Philippines poses
many benefits when it comes to prevention of unsafe abortion and pregnancy among
young adolescents.
Unwanted pregnancies are common among Filipino women, and many of those
seeking abortions resort to risky procedures because abortion is so stigmatized here.
Many often powerful segments of Filipino society pose obstacles or outright opposition
to women's access to reproductive health services. Although it is legal to use
contraception in the Philippines, the government had only moderately supported access
to modern contraceptives until mounting pressure to lower maternal mortality and
morbidity and fight poverty in the nation emerged in recent years. Women are at higher
risk of getting unsafe abortions with no post-abortion care, which contributes to the high
mortality rate as complications are fatal. In 2008, an estimated 1000 maternal deaths
occurred due to abortion complications. Due to the inaccessibility of getting an abortion,
the procedures that Filipino women, particularly those in poverty, undergo as a result of
the difficulty in obtaining an abortion become riskier as they use unqualified providers
and run the risk of infection from procedures that result in mild to fatal complications.
Additionally, cost becomes another factor. Due to the complications, Filipino women
who cannot afford post-abortive care are left to self-manage their health problems or
actually not receive it entirely. Stigma is an important factor when it comes to Filipino
women receiving abortions and reproductive care as shame, intimidation, treatment
delay, biases, and threats to the police are all forms of stigma that make more Filipino
women more reluctant to consider an abortion. Which gave them no longer the freedom
to decide for themselves what to do during pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood. And
to make matters worse, despite numerous health issues, it forces women to carry out
unintended pregnancies. According to a national 2004 survey of women of reproductive
age, a higher percentage of poor women have abortions because of inability to secure
money to pay and the lack of any access to productive care. Therefore, criminalizing
Tan, Fatima Alisah B.
BSN 1 - E
abortion does not decrease abortions in the Philippines but it contributes to increased
maternal death, and only oppresses and endangers women.
In conclusion, decriminalizing abortion in the Philippines would promote safer
procedures, reduce maternal mortality, and empower women to make decisions about
their own bodies and futures. The issue of abortion in the Philippines is complex and
multifaceted. The stigma surrounding abortion, coupled with limited access to
reproductive health services and the criminalization of the procedure, creates significant
challenges for women facing unwanted pregnancies. This leads many young adults to
seek unsafe and risky procedures, often resulting in complications and even death. The
lack of affordable post-abortion care further exacerbates the health risks for women,
particularly those living in poverty. Additionally, the societal stigma and lack of autonomy
faced by Filipino women prevent them from making informed choices about their
reproductive health. Criminalizing abortion does not effectively reduce the number of
abortions but instead puts women's lives at risk.