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3
rd
International Congress on
Annual Summit on
October 02-03, 2017 Atlanta,USA
&
Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Microbiology
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Journal of sexual and Reproductive medicine | Volume.1, Issue.2
Access to Information andAttitudes towardsAbortionLegislation; is there an association?
Suchira Suranga M.
1
, Silva K.T.
2
and
Senanayake L.
1
1
The Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka.
2
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
A
bortion is legally permitted in Sri Lanka, only if it is performed to save the mother’s life. However, it is
estimated a large number of induced abortions take place in Sri Lanka. This study aims to understand
the public attitudes towards abortion legislation and influence of access to information in determining attitudes
towards abortion legislation in Sri Lankan Context. A cross sectional community based study was conducted
among males and females between 19 to 49 years of age, residence in Colombo city at least for one year. A
structured interview schedule was administered among representative sample of 743 respondents recruited using
multi-stage stratified, cluster sampling method. Descriptive statistical analysis and non-parametric hypothesis
testing were performed using SPSS software. Amajority agreed to legalize abortion for rape (65%), incest (55%)
and pregnancies with lethal fetal abnormalities (53%). However, less than 07% of respondents agreed to legalize
induced abortion for other reasons such as contraceptive failure, bad economic conditions, on request, etc. The
most common source of information on abortion was informal discussions, followed by the mass media. Access
to information on abortion through newspapers, leaflets/handouts, TV/Radio programs and news, internet and
informal discussions shows a positive association with liberal attitudes towards induced abortion. Access to mass
media shows the highest influence in determining abortion attitudes. In conclusion, respondents demonstrated
conservative attitudes towards induced abortion. Access to information is positively associated with the liberal
attitudes towards induced abortion
suranga@fpasrilanka.org