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Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border

Belton, Suzanne and Whittaker, Andrea (2007). Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border. Social Science and Medicine,65(7):1512-1523.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 4 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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IRMA ID 78670100xPUB16
Title Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border
Author Belton, Suzanne
Whittaker, Andrea
Journal Name Social Science and Medicine
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 65
Issue Number 7
ISSN 0277-9536   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-34548150743
Start Page 1512
End Page 1523
Total Pages 12
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher Pergamon/Elsevier
Field of Research 1117 - Public Health and Health Services
1601 - Anthropology
1608 - Sociology
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract Forced migrants face particular reproductive health problems. Migrant Burmese women in Thailand often need to work to support themselves and their families, and mistimed and unwanted pregnancies are a common problem. They have limited access to culturally appropriate reproductive health services and no access to safe elective abortion. They are at risk of deportation or at least harassment by Thai authorities if they travel. They use traditional methods such as herbal medicines, and employ lay midwives to provide pummelling and stick abortions to end their pregnancies. This ethnographic study used various methods to collect data over 10 months in Tak Province, Thailand. The authors describe the women's motives and means of ending their pregnancies and some of the difficulties in obtaining reliable modern methods of contraception. This study highlights the need for reproductive health care for displaced populations.
Keywords unsafe abortion
forced migration
refugee
Burma
Myanmar
Thailand
reproduction
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.05.046   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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Created: Fri, 12 Sep 2008, 08:35:25 CST by Administrator