‘No room for complacency on abortion rate’

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 36

‘No room for complacency on abortion rate’

Wellington reporter New Zealand cannot afford to be complacent about its low abortion rate, according to the Wellington-based group, Women’s National Abortion Action Campaign. The spokeswoman, Ms Di Cleary, said overseas experience suggested that rejection of modem contraceptive methods was increasing and might have an adverse effect on abortion rates.

Denmark reported one in four pregnancies ending in abortion, she said. Studies showed considerable numbers of women abandoning unacceptable contraception and/or failing to find an acceptable method. New .Zealand’s low abortion rate was attributable to women being good users of contraception. But if overseas patterns

were followed here there could be a swift rise in abortion rates. One doctor in Christchurch had already reported an increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions as a result of I.U.D. removals.

Ms Cleary said the Abortion Action Campaign had not seen the evidence for this statement; but if it were true, the medical profession, the . Government, and Health Department should anticipate such developments and promote alternative methods. Women needed access to safer contraception.

The campaign said men would carry the main share of the responsibility for lowering abortion rates in the future as condoms had no side-ef-fects.