Abortion statistics and pre-abortion counselling

These are written answers to my questions from the Minister for Health in Parliament on 8 April 2013.

ABORTIONS CARRIED OUT IN SINGAPORE FROM 2002 TO 2012

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Health in each year from 2002 to 2012, how many abortions were carried out (i) on or before the 12th week of pregnancy; (ii) from the 12th to the 20th week of pregnancy; (iii) from the 21st to the 24th week of pregnancy; (iv) after the 24th week of pregnancy; and (v) on Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners.

Mr Gan Kim Yong:

The statistics of abortions carried out in the 1^st trimester (up to 12 weeks), 2^nd trimester (>12-24weeks) and after 24 weeks of pregnancy are provided in Table 1. Table 2 provides the breakdown of abortions by Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and foreigners.

Table 1: Breakdown of abortions based on pregnancy trimester

Gestation Week	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
≤ 12th week (1st Trimester)	11266	11097	10480	10835	10820	11171	11249	10895	10771	9631
>12th to 24th week (2nd Trimester)	992	965	1001	1186	1110	1048	1067	1186	1167	990
>24th week	14	8	1	11	3	3	2	1	2	3
Total number of abortions carried out	12272	12070	11482	12032	11933	12222	12318	12082	11940	10624

Source: Termination of Pregnancy System (with effect from 2003)[1]

Table 2: Breakdown of abortions by Singaporean Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreigners

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Singaporeans	9763	9236	8679	8813	8484	8183	7887	7620	7282	6431
PR	858	1060	734	1338	1359	1511	1639	1695	1634	1382
Foreigners	1651	1774	2069	1881	2090	2528	2792	2767	3024	2811
Total Abortions	12272	12070	11482	12032	11933	12222	12318	12082	11940	10624

Source: Termination of Pregnancy System (with effect from 2003)

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[1] The online Termination of Pregnancy System was only implemented in 2003. Prior to 2003, the report on request for treatment to terminate pregnancy was submitted to MOH in hard copies and records were captured manually. Hence, we do not have the raw patient data to support the statistics before 2003.

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REQUIREMENT FOR PRE-ABORTION COUNSELLING

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Health why women who have not passed the PSLE, have no secondary education, have three or more children, or are foreigners, are not required to undergo pre-abortion counselling by a trained abortion counsellor before undergoing an abortion.

Mr Gan Kim Yong:

Mandatory pre-abortion and post-abortion counselling was introduced in 1987 to provide information and support to women intending to undergo abortion.  The criteria reflected the main concern then.

Some of the criteria are no longer relevant and should be reviewed.  The Ministry had commenced a review of this in early March this year, and will consult the public in due course.

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