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Induced Abortion: Facts and Prospects in Thailand

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Induced Abortion: Facts and Prospects in Thailand DiSTRibUTED FREE 01? CHARGB SEAPRAP RESEARCH REPORT NO. 40 INDUCED ABORTION: FACTS AND PROSPECTS IN THAILAND ORATAT (CHAROENSJLP) RAUYAJIN Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Mahidol University Bangkok Thailand December 1979 A report of research undèrtaken with the assistance of an award from the Southeast Asia Population Research Awards Program (SEAPRAP), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Republic of Singapore ARCHIV 47534 (an edited version) - Lib. R53 3. ÂCKNOWLEDG1ENT The author wishes to express her sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Public Health, the Provincial Hospitals, the Provincial Public Health Officers in every province, and all the policy makers and couples for their cooperation and assistance throughout the pro- cess of data collection. Helpful comments and advice were graciously offered by the following: Samlee Pleanbangchang, M.D., Director of the Technical Division, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health; Dr, Chavalit Siripirom, Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, Songklanakarin University; Miss Manee Smithisumpun, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University. To each, the author is deeply grateful. Special thanks are also due to Miss Sirilakana Chutikul and Mr. Chanet V. Kumthong for editing the entire manuscript. Financial assistance was granted by the Southeast Asia Popu- lation Research Awards Program, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, and to its coordinator, I am very grateful. Thanks are also expressed to Mr. Vacharin Rauyajin and others who were involved in facilitating the completion of the study. Oratai (Charoensilp) Rauyajìn Bangkok, Thailand December 1979 gc / ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii LIST OF TABLFS y CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1 Significance of Induced Abortion 1 Objectives of the Study k CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RElATED LITERATURE 5 Induced Abortion Policy Development 5 Induced Abortion In Thailand 10 Attitude Toward Abortion In Thailand 18 CHAPTER III. METHODOlOGY 25 Data Collection 25 Pretest 26 Population 27 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques 27 Interviewing 28 Data Analysis 28 CHAPTER IV. RESULTS OF THE STUDY 29 Part I Trends of Induced Abortion in Thailand 29 Part II General Findings 37 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Sample Ideal Family Size Knowledge and Experience of Birth Control Practice Induced Abortion Practice and Gestational Age Reasons for Induced Abortion Sources of Services, Types of Practitioners, Payment for Service 111 Page CHAPTER IV. (Continued) Part III Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion : the General Public and the Policy Makers 45 A) Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under Social Circumstances B) Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under Economic Circumstances C) Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under Moral and Religious Circumstances D) Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under Health Circumstances E) Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under the Circumstance Concerning Law and Policy Condition F) Level of Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances Part IV The Relationship Between Socio-Demographic Variables and Attitude Level Under Overall Circumstances 72 Age Groups and Attitude Level Sex and Attitude Level Education and Attitude Level Occupation and Attitude Level s) Economic Status and Attitude Level F) Number of Living Children and Attitude Level G) Residences and Attitude Level ii) Family Size and Attitude Level Knowledge and Practice of Birth Control Methods and Attitude Level Abortion Experience and Attitude Level iv Page CHAPTER IV. (Continued) Part V Analysis of Variance and Multiple Classification Analysis of Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion 85 Part VI Revision of the Abortion Law 89 Decision Making for Induced Abortion Duration of Pregnancy to be Terminated by Induced Abortion CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION, DISCUSSION AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 95 Conclusion and Discussion 95 Policy Recommendations 99 V LIST OF TABTT.$ Page Table 1. Trends of Induced Abortion by Years from 1966 to 197k 31 Table 2. Trends of Induced Abortion and Tentative Induced Abortion, from 1966 to 197k 31 Table 3. Trend of Induced Abortion by Legal Status and by Years, from 1966 to 197k 3k Table tf. Distribution of "Induced Abortion" by Regions, from 1966 to 197k 3k Table 5. Number and Percentage Distribution by Type, Legal Status, and Geographical Area for the Five Year Period of 1966 to 197k 35 Table 6. Percentage of the General Public and the Policy Nakers by Socio-Demographic Characteristics 38 Table 7. Percentage Distribution of Couples and Policy Makers by Ideal Family Size ki Table 8. Percentage of the General Public and Policy Makers By Knowledge and Previous Practicing of Birth Control Methods k]. Table 9. Percentage of Couples by abortion Experience Table 10. Percentage of Couples by Gestationa]. Age When Having Induced Abortion k2 Table 11. Percentage of Couples Who Have Induced Abortion By Reasons for Induced Abortion k3 Table 12. Percentage of Couples Who Have Induced Abortion by Sources of Services, Type of Practitioners and Payment k3 Table 13. General Public Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Different Social Circumstances 48 vi Page Table 1k. Policy Maker's Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Different Social Circumstances 50 Table 15. General Public Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Economic Circumstances 53 Table 16. Policy Maker's Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Economic Circumstances 5k Table 17. General Public Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Moral and Religious Circumstances 57 Table 18. Policy Maker Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Moral and Religious Circumstances 58 Table 19. General Public Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Health Circumstances 60 Table 20. Policy Maker's Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Health Circumstances ..,. 62 Table 21. General Public Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Law and Policy Circumstances 65 Table 22. Policy Maker's Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Law and Policy Circumstances 66 Table 23. Score Interval and Attitude Level on Induced Abortion Under AU Circumstances 68 Table 2k. Percentage and Mean Score of the General Public by Attitude Level Toward Induced Abortion Under Various Circumstances 70 Table 25. Percentage and Mean Score of Policy Makers by Attitude Level Under Various Circumstances .... 70 Table 26. Percentage of' Couples by Age Group and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under AU Circumstances 73 Table 27. Percentage of Couples by Sex and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under Al]. Circumstances 73 Page Table 28. Percentage of Couples by Education Level and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under AU Circumstances 75 Table 29. Percentage of Couples by Occupation and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 75 Table 30. Percentage of Couple by Income Level and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 78 Table 31. Percentage of Couples by Number of Living Children and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 78 Table 32. Percentage of Couples By Residence and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 81 Table 33. Percentage of Couples by Ideal Family Size and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 81 Table 31f. Percentage of Couples by Knowledge and Practicing of Birth Control Methods and Attitude Toward Induced Abortion Under All Circumstances 83 Table 35. Percentage of Couples by Abortion Experience and Attitude Tcward Induc1 Abortion Under All Circumstances 83 Table 36. Analysis of Variance of Attitudes Toward Induced Abortion 86 Table 37. Multiple Classification Analysis of Attitude Toward Induced Abortion 87 Table 38. Percentage of Approving Revision of Induced Abortion Law by Indications 91 Table 39. Percentage of Respondents by Conditon regarding Who Should Make the Decision to Have an Induced Abortion 93 Table ko. Duration of Pregnancy Which Should Be Allowed by Abortion Law 93 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Significance of Induced Abortion Among the greatest problems on the world agenda is the popula- tion problem. World population is now the largest in history and is rising at a pace that could double human numbers in the next four decades. Two centuries ago, the population was 658 million. Just since 1900, population has increased from about 1.5 billion to the present level of about k billion.' Furthermore, the problem is most urgent in the developing countries where rapid population growth retards social and economic development. At present, population in the developing regions is increasing at almost three times the rate of the developed regions because the average population growth of the former is about 2.5 per cent per year, whereas the latter have growth rates of about 1.0 per cent--yielding doubling times of 28 and 70 years respectively. Accordingly, the most rapid population growth occurs disproportionately in the poor countries, and the accompanying burden is greatest where it can least be accommodated.2 Thailand, like many other developing countries, has been faced with the serious problem of a high rate of population growth. In 1971, Thailand ranked sixteenth in population size, and third, among Asian countries, in terms of population growth rate. This rapid growth has been a major contributor to numerous problems, namely inadequacy of housing, widespread poverty, inequitable educational opportunities, political sabotage, etc. After having considered its adverse effects on economic and social development, the Thai Govern- ment declared a formal National Population
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