LETTER | We refer to a report by The Star on Oct 22 headlined 'Mother in Terengganu fails in attempt to hide stillborn'.

A 22-year-old woman took abortion pills during the 20th week of her pregnancy, which led to the birth of a stillborn foetus and her subsequent arrest.

This situation is unfortunately familiar to sexual health rights and reproductive health rights (SRHR) organisations and those of us working to destigmatise access to SRHR information and and services for young people.

The Health Ministry has acknowledged in the past that safe abortions “reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal
health”. (Health Ministry, 2012)

The fact that a young adult woman took abortion pills in her 20th week of pregnancy without the advice of a medical doctor shows that there are gaps in the system.

Young couples, who are likely to earn less than their older counterparts, are at a disadvantage when they are unable to access affordable contraception and safe abortions in government clinics and hospitals.

The lack of access and information on SRHR services is exacerbated when it comes to young unmarried women, who have to face stigma and deal with judgment not only by family and society but also healthcare providers.

We have received and continue to receive calls from desperate members of the public who turn to the black market to purchase abortion pills when they experience stigma from medical practitioners.

Unplanned pregnancies are preventable, and in the case of contraceptive failure, destigmatised and safe abortion services are needed as part of a comprehensive healthcare system.

In such cases it is the women who bear the brunt of such pregnancies, while their partners are not being held responsible.

We urge the government to uphold its commitments to ensure health rights and gender rights, and recommend that such commitments begin with the training of doctors and nurses in government clinics and hospitals to provide non-judgmental and equal reproductive health choices to all.

Dr Subatra is the honorary secretary of Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) while Syirin Junisya is the executive director of Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia (FRHAM).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.