Of 683 women respondents in Nganglam in Pema Gatshel, 385 of them believe there are women who go across the border for illegal abortion, reveals Bhutan Health Journal, launched in the capital yesterday. The study was conducted in 2013.
The journal says about 58 percent of the participants knew women who traveled across the border for abortion.
The respondents also said there are those who used other methods such as traditional medicine to abort.
Hospitals in Bhutan also see many cases of post abortion complications such as septic abortion and incomplete evacuation of fetal parts from unsafe abortion, the journal says.
Nganglam Basic Health Unit’s Chief Nurse, Jigme Choden said an unplanned pregnancy is the main reason why women travel across the border for abortion. The other reasons, she said, include financial problem and unfaithful partners, among others.
Bhutan allows abortion only when a mother’s life is at risk, incest, rape and fetal deformity.
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