PSYCHO-SOCIAL SEQUELAE OF ABORTION IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

A prospective study looking into the psychosocial sequelae of induced abortion was undertaken in Singapore in September 1974, The study lasted two years. The subjects were the abortees who come for abortion in Kandang Kerbau and Alexandro Hospitals. To make the study meaningful, the abortees were compared to a control group which consisted of women who come to the two hospitals for antenatal examination and subsequent delivery, where were altogether 850 abortees and 869 delivery women. Each woman had a total of three interviews. The first interview took place pre-abortion/post-delivery, the second at six weeks post-abortion/post-delivery, and the third at one year post-abortion/post-delivery, The findings of the study showed that induced abortion does not carry psychological sequelae, rather the women improved in psychological status post-abortion, Morbidity is low in induced abortion and the abortees had o harmonious family life post-abortion. The abortees' practice of contraception, which was rather haphazard pre-abortion, become more regular post-abortion, Fertility among the abortees was low post-abortion, refuting the popular notion that with Singapore's liberal abortion law, women will utilise abortion as a method of family planning.