TEENAGE ABORTIONS (Particulars)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for Finance, Minister for Education and Minister for Health since the Abortion Act of 1974 was enacted, making it no longer necessary for those below 18 years of age to obtain consent from parents/guardians, (a) has the removal of such consent resulted in more teenage abortions compared to the preceding 5-year period when such consent was necessary; (b) were there more repeated teenage abortions compared to the preceding 5-year period; and (c) whether the Minister will consider introducing amending legislation to include consent for those below 18 years of age if the statistics point to greater permissiveness among teenagers and higher number of repeated teenage abortions.

The Minister of State for Health and Foreign Affairs (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong) (for the Minister for Finance, Minister for Education and Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

During the period preceding the enactment of the Abortion Act of 1974, abortions among unmarried teenagers increased from 24 in 1970 to 284 in 1974. After the enactment of this Act, the number increased from 704 in 1975 to 1,109 in 1979 and 1,787 in 1984.

Repeat abortions among teenagers numbered five in 1971 and increased to 49 in 1974. After the enactment of the Abortion Act in 1974, the number increased from 72 in 1975 to 208 in 1979 and 456 in 1984. This increase has been partly due to the fact that, with the increasing number of years in which the Act has been in operation, the number of teenagers who would have undergone abortions has grown, thereby increasing the likelihood of repeat abortions among this group.

The question is whether this increase in the number of teenage and repeat abortions is entirely due to liberalization of abortion laws or due to other external factors, namely, changing social mores brought about by wide exposure to foreign life-styles. These external factors have caused radical changes in our young people's moral values. The whole issue of abortion amongst unmarried teenagers is related to changing moral values of life. The Government can only play a limited role in instilling the right moral values into our young citizens. The moulding of children's character during the formative years of their lives lies chiefly in the hands of their parents and teachers. It is during these impressionable years that the correct moral values instilled will decide their future behaviour. Parents should take on this important responsibility which should be further fortified in schools by incorporating moral education into the school curriculum.

The problem of teenage abortions is a world-wide one and there are no easy solutions. The Member for Jalan Kayu has asked if the Ministry would consider introducing amending legislation to include consent for those below 18 years of age if the statistics point to greater permissiveness among teenagers and higher number of repeated teenage abortions. Imposing the condition that teenagers seeking abortions should be required to get parental consent will drive teenagers to back-street abortionists or discourage them from revealing their pregnancy until an advanced stage. This will be a retrogressive step which will lead to greater risks to the health of these teenagers. Complications of illegal abortion account for up to 70% of maternal deaths in hospitals of developing countries and an unknown number of additional deaths outside hospitals.

A pregnant teenager who seeks an abortion is one who has an immediate problem. To refuse her the possibility of having an abortion under proper medical and psychological care is tantamount to forcing her to seek a clandestine abortion with consequent serious risk to her health. A more pragmatic approach would be to carry out the abortion first, when the teenager is in a desperate position of having to cope with the consequences of an unanticipated, unwanted pregnancy, followed by counselling her in the presence of her parents. Parents would then be obliged to exercise greater moral responsibility over their daughters.

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): In view of the tremendous increase in abortions as stated by the Minister of State, from 1,109 in 1979 and 1,787 in 1984, will the Minister or his Ministry consider abolishing the Abortion Act and allow the pregnant teenagers to have their babies and to realize the consequences of their act?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, repealing the Abortion Act, I feel, would be an act of refusal to recognize that there are social and health problems involved. The very act of repealing the Abortion Act will not wipe out the abortions because teenagers who have this problem and who do not want to go through with the pregnancy will then have to resort to back-street abortions, thereby posing great risks to their health and even their life.

Dr Lau Teik Soon: Is the Minister of State saying that the pregnant teenagers, with all the sophisticated facilities we have in our hospitals, will have medical and social consequences after giving birth to these babies?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, I do not think it is the impact of the hospital services that we are worried about. It is the impact of the lack of good medical services possessed by the back-street abortionists that we are more concerned about. The Ministry does recognize that the number is large and we are in the process of reviewing the Act. And I would like to invite Members to perhaps pass on their views to us which we will take into consideration when reviewing the Act.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam (Fengshan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether any study has been made of this group of persons, especially those who had repeated teenage abortions? Because an understanding of this cohort of people - their socio-economic circumstances, their psychological problems maybe - would help in the prevention or maybe a curtailing of this problem in the future.

The other question I would like to pose to you is: I agree with you totally that permissiveness is not to be encouraged, but maybe it is better for the teenage girl to be on contraceptives than to undergo repeated abortions.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, I agree with the Member that more education is required. I have already stated that perhaps the school should consider expanding the moral education curriculum to cope with this problem.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam: Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of clarification. I was not asking about more education. I was asking for a study to identify the people in this vulnerable group. Has any study been made? Or will the Minister consider making a study of this group? Who are the vulnerable ones? Who are the people most vulnerable to repeated abortions? We have to know the characteristics of this group, if we are to tackle this problem. I totally agree with you that education is necessary. But who do you educate? You must identify the group first.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, when any pregnant woman comes into a clinic in a Government hospital for abortion, she is first counselled and dissuaded from going through with the abortion. The abortion is, therefore, an act of last resort. She is motivated by the trained medical staff on the use of proper contraceptive methods. So this should help to prevent repeated abortions.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam: On a point of clarification, Mr Speaker, Sir. It looks like I have to go into -

Mr Speaker: It seems to be clarification time, not supplementary questions.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam: Am I in order, Sir?

Mr Speaker: Let us have your supplementary question, please.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam: Will the Minister agree to a study of this problem, yes or no?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Yes, we will undertake a study into this problem.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Hon. Minister of State has invited hon. Members to contribute suggestions, may I commend him and his Ministry to the intensive in-depth report in the Hansard on the two occasions that this House had to debate on, and that is, the Abortion Bill to liberalize abortions, and the second one was to repeal the Abortion Act, followed by the re-enactment of the new Abortion Bill. In those two pieces of legislation, I am sure the Minister of State and his Ministry will find replete with arguments and suggestions.

Mr Speaker: A very long question, is it not?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I ask the Minister whether he is aware of this.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, yes, the Ministry is very aware of the debates and they were well recorded in the Hansard. We will definitely refer to them.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Radin Mas): Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Hon. Minister of State inform this House the age range of those who undergo teenage abortions, and whether there is any change in the trend in this lower age range?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, a teenager is defined as someone who is below 18 years of age.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Mr Speaker, Sir, what I was referring to was the youngest age of someone who has undergone abortion, and whether there is any trend in that age.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Hon. Minister of State stating that the Ministry is having second thoughts on the Abortion Act that was introduced and implemented in 1974? And that there being serious consequences on the younger population, particularly the teenagers, it now merits a review of the Abortion Act?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, let me first answer the question from the Member for Radin Mas. The age groups that we have in the data relate to those below 15 years and those between 16 and 19 years. We have no further breakdowns other than these. The figures for those below 15 years are quite constant. They are in the region of 20 a year.

To the question posed by the Member for Punggol as to whether the Ministry is having second thoughts on the Act, in terms of repealing the Act, the answer is No. But we feel that certain provisions in the Act may have to be modified in order to reduce the ease with which teenage abortions can be obtained.