Unsafe abortion: a public health approach

Researching abortion is challenging in that abortion is often stigmatised and illegal, however there is a lot of published credible research available that can be used from other countries. There is little research from Indonesia on the issue of abortion and researchers need to pick up the challenge to produce good quality quantitative and qualitative research to assist clinicians and policy makers. While the data in Indonesia is difficult to verify, there is a substantial number of women who are exposed to dangerous and traumatising abortion procedures each year, and and unknown number are harmed or killed. Unsafe abortion is entirely preventable and sound public health policies and laws prevent it. Our aim should be to make abortion safe and rare.