Mapping abortion policies, programmes and services in the South-East Asia Region

An estimated 21.6 million unsafe abortions took place globally in 2008, resulting in 47 000 pregnancy-related deaths and 5 million women suffering temporary or permanent disabilities (WHO, 2011). Most of these were estimated to have occurred in the developing regions, accounting for 98% of all unsafe abortions. Of these, an estimated 10.8 million unsafe abortions were reported to have taken place in Asia. Restrictive legal provisions, non-availability of national standards and guidelines to guide abortion provision, lack of availability of trained service providers and registered facilities are some of the leading reasons for unsafe abortions and the resulting high maternal mortality and morbidity. The overall objective of this exercise is to map the legal situation of abortion in the countries of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR), namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People's Republic (DPR) of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. It also aims to describe the existing policies and guidelines regulating abortion service delivery as well as to identify the gaps in making safe abortion a reality for women in the Region. Abortion is permitted in all countries of SEAR, at least when there is threat to the woman's life. As far as national standards and guidelines are concerned, 4 out of the 11 countries have developed guidelines and efforts made to ensure that abortion provision follows them. However, liberal abortion laws alone cannot ensure safe abortion. There are many barriers that delay access to safe abortion services, both within the laws binding provision of abortion as well as health service delivery guidelines, availability of an adequate number of facilities and trained abortion providers. Abortions will continue to occur regardless of the status of abortion laws. Unintended pregnancies occur all over the world, and some women who do not want the unplanned birth will resort to abortion - whether safe or unsafe. It is essential to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion by ensuring access to safe abortion services and post-abortion care (PAC).