abortion situation in lithuania esmeralda kuliesyte md, executive director family planning and...

Abortion situation in Lithuania

Esmeralda KuliesyteMD, Executive Director

Family Planning and Sexual Health AssociationFIGO project coordinator

Abortion is legal in Lithuania since 1955.

There is no abortion law in Lithuania.

The 1994 order of the Minister of Health regulates abortion procedure.

Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, abortion is allowed on women's request.

After 12 weeks up to 22 weeks – according to medical indications.

Every year around 10 000 abortions are performed on women’s request in Lithuania. 10,8 abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age. 33 abortions per 100 live births.

Lithuanian Health Information Center, 2006

Unmarried women terminate pregnancy twice as often as the married ones. The biggest part of women who had abortion was not well educated. The main reason indicated as a barrier to have children – financial problems.

Dissertation by Dr. Virginija Vanagiene „ The reasons for termination of pregnancy and the peculiarities of contraception consumption, conclusions and recommendations“, 2001

23 % of all abortions are performed in the age of 20-24 years old.13 % of all abortions are performed in the age of 15-19.

Lithuanian Department of StatisticsLithuanian Health Information Center, 2006, LHIC

The first termination of the pregnancy constitutes 24 % of all abortions. In the age group of 15-19 this percentage is about 72 %.

LHIC, data only from state institutions, 2006

Approximately 2500 women aged 15-16 give birth every year. Unplanned pregnancies constitute 25 % in this age group.

LHIC, data only from state institutions, 2006

No cases of death related to abortion have been registered. Illegal abortion is very rare.

Medical abortion is not legal in Lithuania.

At the end of 2007 conservative parliamentarians proposed Protection of Human Life in Prenatal Stage Draft Law, which aims to prohibit abortion on women’s request, leaving two possible reasons for abortion – threat to women’s health and life and the case of rape or incest.

In June State Family Policy Concept which recommends to protect human life from the moment of conception has been approved.

Such policies discriminate women and do not contribute to ensuring equal rights and equal opportunities to them. It is expected, that after banning of abortion in Lithuania, the number of illegal abortions and women’s deaths will increase.

According to the data of RAIT survey in 2005,

60,9 % of reproductive age (16-49 years) women do not

use any contraception.

The most commonly used methods, RAIT:

contraceptive pills – 20, 5 %, condoms - 13,9%, intra-uterine device – 5 %.

Women of reproductive age (16-49 years) reported not using contraceptive pills because they believe they are harmful for health (32, 6%), RAIT.

Contraception is mostly used by urban people of 16-44 years old, whose monthly income exceed 600 Litas for one family member.

Contraceptive pills are most commonly used by the women aged 16-34, whose monthly income is more than 1000 Litas for one family member, RAIT.

The reasons for not using effective contraceptive methods are mostly subjective:

- trusting the partner, - carelessness and lack of interest in contraception, - underestimation of the risk to conceive.

Objective reason – intolerance of used contraception.

Dissertation by Dr. Virginija Vanagiene „ The reasons for termination of pregnancy and the peculiarities of contraception consumption, conclusions and recommendations“, 2001

Voluntary sterilization, which could be chosen by the

couples who do not want more children, is not legal.

There is no National Family Planning Program aiming to increase awareness of the society, couples, women and youth about contraception and its usage.

Contraception counseling after abortion in health care institutions is not sufficient or does not exist.

The information about family planning, contraception is spread poorly and often even erroneously in schools, the teachers very often talk about inefficacy and harmfulness of contraception.

There is lack of society education on prevention of unplanned pregnancy and family planning methods.

Gynecologists, midwifes, nurses and family doctors are the main sources from whom women get information about effective contraception.

Dissertation by Dr. Virginija Vanagiene „ The reasons for termination of pregnancy and the peculiarities of contraception consumption, conclusions and recommendations“, 2001m.

NATIONAL ACTION PLAN

LITHUANIA

Goal

To reduce the number of abortions in Lithuania.

Activity Responsible Organization

Time frame Indicator

1.1. To establish Unplanned Pregnancy Prevention Program

MoH, LSOG, FPSHA, LSC, LCGP, LUM

2009-2011 Increased contraceptive prevalence rate from 40 % to 60 %

1.2. To introduce a course on FP and contraception for family doctors

MoHLSOG, FPSHA, LCGP

2009-2011 No of trained family doctors. Increased knowledge on FP and counseling

MoH – the Ministry of Health FPSHA – Family Planning and Sexual Health AssociationMoE&S – the Ministry of Education and Science LSC - Lithuanian Society of ContraceptologistsLSOG – Lithuanian Society of Obstetricians Gynecologists LCGP - Lithuanian College of General PractitionersLUM - Lithuanian Union of Midwifes

Objective 1

To increase contraceptive prevalence rate up to 60 % in three years.



1.3. To establish training for trainers program for health care specialists, social workers, pedagogues

MoH, MoE&S, LSOG, LSC

2009-2011 Programm established.

Increased knowledge on FP and contraception of public health specialists

MoH – the Ministry of Health FPSHA – Family Planning and Sexual Health AssociationMoE&S – the Ministry of Education and Science LSC - Lithuanian Society of ContraceptologistsLSOG – Lithuanian Society of Obstetricians Gynecologists LCGP - Lithuanian College of General PractitionersLUM - Lithuanian Union of Midwifes

Objective 1




1.4. To review sexuality education program for schools To allow public health and heals care specialists (nurses, midwifes, doctors) to provide health education in schools

MoE&S, LSOG, FPSHA, LSC, LCGP,

LUM

2009-2010 Increased quality of sexuality education

Objective 1


MoH – the Ministry of Health FPSHA – Family Planning and Sexual Health Association MoE&S – the Ministry of Education and Science LSC - Lithuanian Society of Contraceptologists LSOG – Lithuanian Society of Obstetricians Gynecologists LCGP - Lithuanian College of General Practitioners LUM - Lithuanian Union of Midwifes



1.5. To introduce a course for pedagogues on modern methods of FP and contraception

MoH, MoE&SLSOG, FPSHA, LUM

2009 - 2011 Inreased quality of education on FP, contraception

Objective 1



Objective 2

To improve SRHR legislation and governmental support to SRHR in two years period.

Activity Responsible

Organization


2.1. To establish National Reproductive Health Policy

MoH, LSOG, FPSHA,LSC,

LCGP

2009-2011 Established National Policy and plan how to improve reproductive health and rights of population


Objective 2

To improve SRHR legislation and governmental support to SRHR in two years period.


Organization


2.2. To establish the Reproductive Health and Rights draft law

MoH, LSOG, FPSHA, LSC,

LCGP

2009-2011 Law established, access insured to legal abortion

2.3. To introduce Medical Abortion

MoH, LSOG, FPSHA

2009-2010 Increased number of early abortions


Objective 3

To improve abortion statistics in one year period.


Organization


To develop national norm on abortion statistics

MoH 2009 National norm developed, more reliable data on abortion

MoH – the Ministry of Health

Objective 4

To improve awareness of emergency contraception (EC) of young people in one year period.


Organization


To organize education sessions on EC for students

FPSHA 2009 Number of educated studentsIncreased knowledge on EC of students

FPSHA – Family Planning and Sexual Health Association

abortion situation in lithuania esmeralda kuliesyte md, executive director family planning and...

Documents

abortion law

medical abortion

abortion situation

abortion threat

abortion procedure

years women

women of reproductive

unmarried women