12,000 abortions a year in Singapore - half of them from married women

[BuiKia]

Discouraging abortion 'should not be solution'

My Paper

SINGAPORE - Discouraging abortion and encouraging couples to adopt should not be seen as the solution to Singapore's fertility challenge, said Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing yesterday.

He said it is "a very difficult and tricky topic", and social-service agencies that provide abortion counselling have told him that it is tough getting a woman to consider going through a pregnancy only to later give the child away.

He was responding to calls from at least four Members of Parliament (MPs) who urge the Government to look into helping unwed women who are pregnant.

Currently, there are an average of 12,000 abortions a year - half of them from married women. There are 400 adoptions a year. "Even if we are able to save only 10 per cent of these abortion cases, that would mean 1,200 more babies in our midst," said Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio GRC).

Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) said: "I strongly believe that, if adoption is publicised as a comforting, loving, nurturing and voluntary alternative, there will be a reduced number of abortions in Singapore."

Mr Chan said there are mea- sures to counsel women on the risks and implications of an abor- tion, and written consent must be given after a cooling-off period. The ministry will help women make informed choices, but "the decision to carry a baby to term or abort (it) is ultimately a deeply personal one".

However, unwed single parents will soon stand to benefit. Childcare and infant-care leave will be extended to this group from May 1.

This means that, like other parents, they will get six days of childcare leave annually if they have children below the age of seven, and two days if they have kids aged between seven and 12.

They will also enjoy six days of unpaid infant-care leave a year if they have a child below the age of two.

 

[greenies]

What were the real reasons the married women want abortion?
Quite obvious, it is.
Financially, all the factors below are counted: -

1) Cost of giving birth,
2) Cost of raising child,
3) Afraid of retrenchment from job,
4) No time for childcare (always at work/ career),
5) No support (no money, no talk),
etc.

 

[Ash007]

In Australia, because of laws in the past that literally took away babies from unwed mums, it is very hard to go for adoption. We wanted a blond hair, blue eye baby girl if our 2nd kid is still a boy. I suppose you guys are lucky to even be able to still do so.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Wow,..good news indeed...12000 mouths we dont have to worry about,,,as if the world not crowded enough as it is,,,

 

[The_Hypocrite]

U can get russian kids,,,????

In Australia, because of laws in the past that literally took away babies from unwed mums, it is very hard to go for adoption. We wanted a blond hair, blue eye baby girl if our 2nd kid is still a boy. I suppose you guys are lucky to even be able to still do so.

 

[iluvgst]

What were the real reasons the married women want abortion?
Quite obvious, it is.
Financially, all the factors below are counted: -

1) Cost of giving birth,
2) Cost of raising child,
3) Afraid of retrenchment from job,
4) No time for childcare (always at work/ career),
5) No support (no money, no talk),
etc.

6) The cuckolded husband is not the father of the fetus.

 

[laksaboy]

Why abort? Just push her down a flight of steps.

Problem solved.

 

[watchman8]

6) The cuckolded husband is not the father of the fetus.

probably a major reason for married women abortion.

The foetus have major birth defects could also be a significant cause.

 

[watchman8]

Wow,..good news indeed...12000 mouths we dont have to worry about,,,as if the world not crowded enough as it is,,,

Yeah. Too bad your mum did not abort you.

 

[johnny333]

What were the real reasons the married women want abortion?
Quite obvious, it is.
Financially, all the factors below are counted: -

1) Cost of giving birth,
2) Cost of raising child,
3) Afraid of retrenchment from job,
4) No time for childcare (always at work/ career),
5) No support (no money, no talk),
etc.

Not forgetting the maids who are not allowed in Spore if they are pregnant .

 

[syed putra]

married also want to abort. but not surprising due to chance of being terminated from work.
Nowadays employers think they are clever by eliminating risk of having to spend more, especially if the boss is a lady. I think male bosses are not so concern about extra costs of having a pregnant employee in the company.

 

[zhihau]

how about a thing or two regarding the statistic for the miscarriages?

 

[batman1]

Singapore's HIGH COSTS OF LIVING and HARSH WORKING ENVIRONMENT and NASTY BASTARD SINGAPORE EMPLOYERS are not conducive to family life and marriage.

 

[laksaboy]

married also want to abort. but not surprising due to chance of being terminated from work.
Nowadays employers think they are clever by eliminating risk of having to spend more, especially if the boss is a lady. I think male bosses are not so concern about extra costs of having a pregnant employee in the company.

Or maybe the married woman fears that the husband finds out about her adultery, because the baby does not in any way look like him?

 

[Ash007]

nah too much of a hassle here. Who knows, maybe they will allow it in Singapore.

U can get russian kids,,,????

 

[johnny333]

nah too much of a hassle here. Who knows, maybe they will allow it in Singapore.

The americans who adopted russian children found that many of the children from orphanages suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. Can imagine where in Spore health care is not cheap, plus the high cost of bringing up children.