Shekinah Grace A.

Plata Section A332

Abortion
Position Paper

Abortion is the removal of a fetus from the uterus before it is capable of living in
normal conditions outside of the womb. An abortion can happen naturally, in which case
it is sometimes referred to as a miscarriage. It can also be intentionally caused, in which
case it is frequently referred to as an induced abortion. Abortion is done for the following
reasons: to stop the pregnancy that resulted from rape or incest; to protect the mother's
physical or mental health; to stop a birth for social or economic reasons; to stop the birth
of a child with a major genetic defect (Encyclopædia Britannica). According to the
Center of Reproductive Rights (2022), there are a total of 73 countries around the world
that permit abortion. On the other hand, there are a total of 24 countries in the world that
prohibit abortion. Abortion is a controversial and significant topic because many people
have ethical, moral, and religious concerns about abortion. Abortion can be detrimental
to a woman’s health and can be prevented.
According to the WHO, abortion is a safe medical procedure. Most women who
have abortions do so in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Medical abortions offer a
very minimal chance of major side effects and have no negative effects on a woman's
health or ability to conceive or give birth in the future. At a briefing hosted by the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Prager stated that the
data shows that women who have abortions likewise do not experience any persistent
mental or physical health issues (WebMD, 2021). In some countries where abortion is
criminalized, most women go through unsafe abortions and risk their lives. The
Philippines is one of the countries that prohibits abortion. Women who are found to have
aborted their fetuses are subject to prison sentences ranging from two to six years
under the law (Chen, 2022). Complications from abortion account for about 1,000
deaths annually, which adds to the high maternal mortality rate in the country. Each
year, complications from unsafe abortions result in the hospitalization of tens of
thousands of women (Finer & Hussain, 2022). Criminalizing abortion is against the civil
rights of women. A woman's right to life is in danger when she is forced to have an
unsafe abortion. A woman has the right to make decisions regarding her own body.
When a pregnancy is unintended, continuing it might have a negative impact on the
mental and emotional health of the woman. Only the woman can determine if she is
ready to have a child and make choices regarding her body, especially her ability to
reproduce (Center for Reproductive Rights, 2011).
Medical issues down the road could arise from an abortion. In some
circumstances, the risk of miscarriage increases along with the risk of pelvic
inflammatory illness. Complications associated with an abortion or having many
abortions may make it difficult to have children. They consist of cramping and pain in
the stomach, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Significant side effects from
abortion, like bleeding, infection, and organ damage, are also possible. Roughly 1 in
100 early abortions and roughly 1 in 50 late abortions result in serious problems
(Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center & Adoption Services, 2016). One of the major
reasons women undergo abortions is poverty, the inability to access maternal
Shekinah Grace A. Plata Section A332

healthcare and raise the child. In the Philippines, the Department of Health has
established the Safe Motherhood Program. It provides access and assistance to quality
healthcare for a safer pregnancy. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
administers the 4P's program, which provides social assistance to impoverished people
to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18 (Official Gazette of
the Republic of the Philippines). Women who seek total control over their bodies should
also be able to do so by abstaining from sexual activity or, if that is not possible, using
contraception responsibly to reduce the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy.
According to a study conducted in 2019, over 40% of unplanned pregnancies in the
United States result in abortions, making up 45% of all pregnancies in the country. The
study concludes that reducing unplanned pregnancies decreases the number of
abortions (Filipovic, 2021).
Getting an abortion can have complications later in life. Moreover, supporting
abortion undermines the real issues. There must be access to healthcare for pregnant
women. Aside from cash assistance, they must be given more opportunities to support
the needs of the child. Unwanted pregnancies cause abortions. Birth control methods
such as the use of contraceptives and the practice of abstinence are ways to eliminate
unwanted pregnancies.

References

Center for Reproductive Rights. (2011, October). Safe and legal abortion is a woman's
human right. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://reproductiverights.org/wp-
content/uploads/2018/08/Safe-and-Legal-Abortion-is-a-Womans-Human-Right.pdf

Center for Reproductive Rights. (2022, September 29). The world's abortion laws.
Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from
https://reproductiverights.org/maps/worlds-abortion-laws/

Chen, H. (2022, July 19). Abortion's illegal in the Catholic majority Philippines, so more
than a million women a year turn to other options. CNN. Retrieved October 17,
2022, from https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/18/asia/philippines-abortion-ban-
debate-women-rights-roe-wade-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

Department of Health. (n.d.). Safe Motherhood Program. Department of Health Website.

Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/safe-
motherhood-program

Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Abortion. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October

17, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/science/abortion-pregnancy

Filipovic, J. (2021, December 14). The anti-abortion movement could reduce abortions
if it wanted to. The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from
Shekinah Grace A. Plata Section A332

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/14/opinion/abortion-contraception-
pregnancy.html

Finer, L. B., & Hussain, R. (2022, August 24). Unintended pregnancy and unsafe
abortion in the Philippines: Context and consequences. Guttmacher Institute.
Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-
pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-context-and-consequences

Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center & Adoption Services. (2016, August 31). Risks
about abortion: Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center & Adoption Services.
Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center & Adoption Services |. Retrieved October
17, 2022, from https://foundationsoflife.org/facts-about-abortion/risks-about-
abortion/

Lowen, L. (2020, January 23). Common arguments for and against abortion.
ThoughtCo. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/arguments-for-and-against-abortion-3534153

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.). Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
program: GOVPH. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved
October 17, 2022, from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/programs/conditional-
cash-transfer/

WebMD. (2021, November 24). Abortion remains medically safe for U.S. women.
WebMD. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from
https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20211124/abortion-remains-medically-safe-
for-us-women

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Abortion. World Health Organization. Retrieved

October 17, 2022, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/abortion#tab=tab_3