JINHA

NEWS CENTER – In Turkey, abortion is legal—but it is emerging that hospitals across the country implement a policy of misinforming women about their right to abortion. The latest research on the subject has shown that only three of Ankara's 30 hospitals told inquiring women they provide abortions.

In February, women's group Purple Roof (MorÇatı) carried out research into public hospitals in Istanbul. The research method was simple: women called hospitals and asked if they provided abortions. Ruling AKP politicians' virulent anti-abortion rhetoric has produced widespread uncertainty amongst women in Turkey about abortion's legality (it is legal until the 10th week of pregnancy and in cases of danger to a woman's health). Therefore, the chilling effect of misinformation from hospitals is enough to scare women who want an abortion away from pursuing it, say women's groups.In Istanbul, researchers found that only three out of 30 public hospitals in the citytold inquiring women that they provided abortions.

The Women's Solidarity Foundation repeated the method in Ankara. They found that only three hospitals replied that they performed abortions on a woman's request. Eight said they did not provide abortion at all. The others cited various conditions for abortions—saying abortions were only for married women who had obtained their husband's permission, women in health danger or in cases where the patient met face-to-face and convinced the doctor to provide an abortion.

The researchers also noted the tone of voice used by the hospital employee answering the phone. They found that at the hospitals that claimed not to provide abortion, staff members answering the phone frequently employed a judgmental tone. Other remarks that staff members made discouraging abortion were claims that the anesthesia for the operation was not covered by the state or insurance; that women would need to obtain unspecified "documents" fromthe district governor; and various forms of misinformation.

The report is cementing concerns among women's groups that the Turkish state and the Ministry of Family and Social Policies has a policy of unofficially blocking access to abortion. Since the ruling AKP unsuccessfully attempted to remove the abortion law in 2012, women's groups have been reporting increasing obstacles to access to abortion and birth control.

(fk/cm)