title: Termination of pregnancy in Papua New Guinea: the traditional and contemporary position.
abstract: There appears to be an increasing need and demand for medical termination of pregnancy both in Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.) and in the developing world generally. Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that where this is denied the mortality and morbidity associated with recourse to illegal abortion is unacceptably high. It is important that all health workers in P.N.G. especially practising clinicians, those in position of authority and those planning the future needs of P.N.G., fully appreciate the advantages of safe medical termination of pregnancy, and understand the legal statutes which delineate the rights of the mother and foetus and define the conditions under which qualified medical practitioners can legally terminate pregnancies.
mesh_terms: D000024:Abortion, Illegal; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology; D000029:Abortion, Legal; D001290:Attitude; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D011247:Pregnancy; D012945:Social Values; D012955:Societies, Medical