To Save the Life of the Woman Information Not Readily

Bhutan

Grounds on which abortion is permitted

To save the life of the woman Information not readily

To preserve physical health available

To preserve mental health

Rape or incest

Foetal impairment

Economic or social reasons

Available on request

Additional requirements

The exact status of abortion law in Bhutan is unclear. Because the official State religion of Bhutan is Buddhism, which disapproves of abortion, it is probable that the procedure is allowed only to save the life of the pregnant woman.

Government view of fertility level: Satisfactory

Government intervention concerning fertility level: No intervention

Government policy on contraceptive use: Direct support provided

Percentage of currently married women* using

modern contraception (aged 15-49; 1994): 19

Total fertility rate (1995-2000): 5.5

Age-specific fertility rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19; 1995-2000): 70.8

Government has expressed particular concern about:

Morbidity and mortality resulting from induced abortion ..

Complications of childbearing and childbirth ..

Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births; 1990):

National 1 600

South-central Asia 560

Female life expectancy at birth (1995-2000): 62.0

______

* all women

Source: The Population Policy Data Bank maintained by the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. For additional sources, see list of references.

Bhutan

Only limited information is readily available on population issues in Bhutan. Since none of the sources makes any reference to abortion policy or practice, the exact status of abortion law in Bhutan is unclear. However, the official State religion of Bhutan is Buddhism, and since Bhuddism disapproves of abortion, it is probable that the procedure is allowed only to save the life of the pregnant woman.

The state of maternal health in Bhutan is known to be poor. Fewer than 20 per cent of pregnant women receive any prenatal care, and only 5 per cent of deliveries take place in hospitals. There is a significant shortage of health facilities and personnel. Maternal and child health and family planning services are provided by Government basic health units. Although they are not numerous, these units are distributed throughout the country. The family planning programme has been in operation since 1974.