A minor field study on abortion legislation and practice in Vietnam
Author
Summary, in English
Abortion was legalized in Vietnam in 1945. Vietnam has for decades had among the highest abortion rates in the world. Due to the lack of reliable numbers on abortion and a lack of collected information on abortion a comprehensive picture of the current legislation and situation is well needed. No overview of the abortion legislation in Vietnam has been provided earlier. This thesis, partly conducted in Vietnam, offers an overview of the Vietnamese abortion legislation and the practice of abortion by using social science methods such as interviews, review of literature, surveys and statistics.
Vietnam does not have a specific abortion law, but rather regulations concerning abortion incorporated in different legislative texts. Currently there are issues with the implementation and understanding of the abortion legislation. This is especially apparent in the legislation on prohibition of sex selective abortions and fetal sex determination.
The population growth in Vietnam was from the 1960s and onwards seen as a problem for the development of the country and therefore different measures has been taken to slow down the population growth. The family planning program and population policies implemented for the last 50 years are failing in some issues. Only recently did the family planning program provide contraceptives to unmarried women and it did not provide counselling in connection with abortion. In addition, Vietnam faces an increase of abortion services performed by private providers. These providers offer an opportunity for women to get a quick and anonymous abortion, but possibly on the expense on their health.
Vietnam is in the process of drafting a new population law which will have an impact on the possibility for women to have an abortion.
Vietnam does not have a specific abortion law, but rather regulations concerning abortion incorporated in different legislative texts. Currently there are issues with the implementation and understanding of the abortion legislation. This is especially apparent in the legislation on prohibition of sex selective abortions and fetal sex determination.
The population growth in Vietnam was from the 1960s and onwards seen as a problem for the development of the country and therefore different measures has been taken to slow down the population growth. The family planning program and population policies implemented for the last 50 years are failing in some issues. Only recently did the family planning program provide contraceptives to unmarried women and it did not provide counselling in connection with abortion. In addition, Vietnam faces an increase of abortion services performed by private providers. These providers offer an opportunity for women to get a quick and anonymous abortion, but possibly on the expense on their health.
Vietnam is in the process of drafting a new population law which will have an impact on the possibility for women to have an abortion.
Department/s
Publishing year
2014
Language
English
Full text
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Document type
Student publication for professional degree (Master's level)
Topic
- Law and Political Science
Keywords
- family law
- abortion legislation
- practice of abortion
- abortion
- Vietnam
- family planning
- sex selection
Supervisor
- Bengt Lundell
- Helle Rydström