Attitude of People in Bangkok towards Abortion

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to find out factual information about the attitudes of people in Bangkok toward induced abortion, the abortion law, and the modification of it. The scope covered the opinions on abortion indicated by economic, social, medical, humanitarian, eugenic protection and demographic reasons. The method of collecting data for the study was to interview by a questionnaires a total of 520 Bangkok residents who live in bang-Rug district, Phya Thai district, Bangkapi district, and Ta Ling Chan district. The method used in selecting the sample was quota sampling. Percentage, Chi-square and and T-test were used in statistical analysis. It is found in this study that though it is harmful for women to seek induced abortion with an unqualified abortionist, the Bangkok residents think it can keep woman from loosing face. Only a few of the sample think committing abortion is a sin and immoral; it depends on conditions and reasons of the abortion. The reasons for abortion that majority of Bangkok residents strongly approve of are : the humanitarian indication; if the women has become pregnant as a result of rape or incestuous sexaual intercourse, the eugenic protection indication; if the pregnant women is mentally retarded or if the expected child might have a grave deformity, the medical indication; if the pregnancy would entail serious danger to life.