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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