title: Access to safe legal abortion in Malaysia: women's insights and health sector response.
abstract: Malaysia has an abortion law, which permits termination of pregnancy to save a woman's life and to preserve her physical and mental health (Penal Code Section 312, amended in 1989). However, lack of clear interpretation and understanding of the law results in women facing difficulties in accessing abortion information and services. Some health care providers were unaware of the legalities of abortion in Malaysia and influenced by their personal beliefs with regard to provision of abortion services. Accessibility to safer abortion techniques is also an issue. The development of the 2012 Guidelines on Termination of Pregnancy and Guidelines for Management of Sexual and Reproductive Health among Adolescents in Health Clinics by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, is a step forward toward increasing women's accessibility to safe abortion services in Malaysia. This article provides an account of women's accessibility to abortion in Malaysia and the health sector response in addressing the barriers.
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia lowwy@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Wah-Yun
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wen-Ting
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yut-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ravindran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jegasothy
authors.affiliation: Klinik Rakyat Family Planning Services SdnBhd, Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sim-Poey
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Choong
mesh_terms: D000029:Abortion, Legal; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Safe legal abortion; health sector response; sexual and reproductive health and rights; women’s access