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1. Abortion
Abortion is one of the most controversial issues of today’s society. Abortion is the
deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks.
Many people are constantly debating whether abortion is good or bad. The people who think that
abortion is good are called pro-abortionists and those who think it is bad are called anti-
abortionists. Anti-abortionists think abortion is like committing murder as it is killing the human
fetus and therefore it should not be allowed at all. Pro-abortionists feel that the parents should
have the right to choose and it is not murder until the baby is born.
There are various reasons that lead a woman to take the decision of abortion. Unintended
pregnancies are the main reason for induced abortions. Despite ample contraceptive measures
available in the market, unplanned pregnancies are the major reason that results in abortion.
Besides, various socio-economic factors, maternal health, etc. play a significant role. Medical
viability of the fetus and any chromosomal defect or any other kind of medical anomaly also
result in abortion. Furthermore, sex selective abortion of female fetuses is most common in areas
where cultural norms value male children over female children, especially in parts of People's
Republic of China, India, Pakistan, the Caucasus, and Southeast Europe.
Abortion is done either by administering medicines or by surgical removal of the fetus.
An abortion by medicine is safest up to 9 weeks of pregnancy. After this period, surgical
abortion is recommended.
The legality of abortion is one of the main determinants of its safety. Countries with
restrictive abortion laws have significantly higher rates of unsafe abortion compared to those
where abortion is legal and available.
Abortion has been legalized in most countries. Induced abortions by medical indication
have been performed since 1940 in Mongolia, mainly to preserve the mother’s health. In 1989,
amendments to the Health Protection Law were “A woman has the right to decide on her
motherhood”. Mongolia permits abortion performed only in the facilities that meet the
requirements and performed by medical doctors who have been certified. According to 2014
statistics, Mongolia has a relatively high abortion rate, 25.9 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-
44.
The modern procedure of abortion is absolutely safe and results in negligible number of
maternal deaths or complications. But on the other hand the abortions did by unskilled and
untrained professionals result in significant maternal deaths and disabilities.
Answer the questions.
1. What is abortion?
2. Who is a pro-abortionist?
3. Who is an anti-abortionist?
4. Are you a pro-abortionist or an anti-abortionist? Why?
5. What are the reasons women have abortions?
6. What is sex selective abortion and where has it been noticed?
7. What are the different methods of abortion?
8. Is abortion legal in Mongolia?
9. What socio-economic determinants can lead to abortion?
10. Should abortion be legal or illegal? Why?