factors affecting the degree of acceptance of science city of munoz on the legalization of abortion

8/7/2019 factors affecting the degree of acceptance of science city of munoz on the legalization of abortion

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Termination of pregnancy that results to the death of the fetus is called abortion. In the

Philippines, legalization of abortion has its first attempt during the administration of President

Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1999) when Camarines Norte representative Casimiro Padilla pass a bill

that would legalize abortion in the Philippines. His primary reason is to protect the health of the

mother and believes, that unborn and unwanted babies should be aborted because the unwanted

children who were not nurtured with love in their childhood bring to the fore their violent

attitude." Unluckily, this bill was opposed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the

Philippines with Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, spokesperson, who says, Padilla's logic is distorted,

There is no such thing as an unwanted baby in a civilized world, but for some legislators, it is

always kill, kill, kill. Now, it's kill the babies."

A current research found out that abortion rate in the Philippines year 2000 is 27%

with metro manila having the highest rate of 52% and Central Luzon to be 27%. It is also found

out that the majority of women who had undergone abortion are those who are married or in a

union, mother of 3 or more children, poor, Roman Catholic, and achieve some high school

education. Reasons for such are the high cost of living (economic cost), family planning, health,

rape incest, and age and societies morals.


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The study aims to determine the factors affecting the degree of acceptance of Munoz

people on the legalization of abortion in the Philippines. The study is designed to put up an idea

that may (1) help the legislators to pursue the abortion bill in the Philippines or (2) to put up an

idea that will clearly state that the position of abortion in the Philippines has no possibility. We

present five determining factors which are Religious, Moral, Cultural, Social, Economic, and

Health factor including the socio demographic characteristic of the respondents.

HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

There is no significant relationship between the socio demographic characteristic of the

respondents on their degree of acceptance on the legalization of abortion in the Philippines.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Main Problem:

y What are the factors affecting the degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on thelegalization of abortion?

Sub-problems:

1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents?2. Does the moral factor affects on the degree of acceptance of respondents?3. Does the religious factor affects on the degree of acceptance of the respondents?4. Does the economic factor affects on the degree of acceptance of the respondents?5. Does the social factor affects on the degree of acceptance of the respondents?6. Does the social factor affects on the degree of acceptance of the respondents?


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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Abortion rate- the number of abortion per 1000 women aged 14-55 years old.

Cultural factors-includes the natural or normal weigh of living of the Filipino.

Economic factors- factors such as population concerns and economic growth.

Moral factors- include the dignity and ethics of the respondents.

Religious factor- factors such as the effect of Gods will, the Ten Commandments, and

what does their religious sector told them so.

Social factor- includes what the community says or does.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study factors affecting the degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the

legalization of abortion has the following objectives:

y To determine the factors affecting the degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz onthe legalization of abortion.

y To determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.y To identify factors such as moral, religious, economic, social, and cultural that may affect

the acceptance or rejection of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion.


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SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The study will be conducted in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija. It will focus on the

respondents on the degree of acceptance on the issue of abortion specifically those practices in a

clinic and those perform with the presence of a medical practitioner. The research of the study

will deal with the said topic only and know other issue shall be tackled. The research will last for

one month and a week time.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study aims to provide information on what are the factors affecting the decision of

Science City of Munoz in accepting or rejecting on the legalization of abortion in the Philippines.

Law makers will benefit most to the results of this study. They will know the degree of

acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the issue and as a result, they can decide whether they

will start to pursue such bill or to neglect the said proposal. Also, it may open the mind of our

people because they will know the different opinions of our respondents from different sectors.


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

A. Filipino LiteratureUnlike any other issues in the Philippines, abortion is really a controversial one that must be

discussed and be given attention by the appropriate authorities because it is already widespread

to our country. If we truly care about life, then we must understand what is going on (Tan

2008). Though pregnancy should consider as a happy event for women, to their husbands and to

their family, some people intend not to continue or to have this. If women having pregnancies

consider abortion as a big problem, they should prepare their selves in a more difficult choice

whether: giving birth to a child that they are not intended or able to care for, or to obtain an

unsafe and illegal abortion.

We knew that abortion in the Philippines is illegal. The act is criminalized by the Revised

Penal Code of the Philippines which was enacted in 1930 but remains in effect today. Articles

256, 258 and 259 of the code mandate imprisonment for the woman who undergoes the abortion,

as well as for any person who assists in the procedure, even if they be the womans parents, a

physician or midwife. Article 258 further imposes a higher prison term on the woman or her

parents if the abortion is undertaken in order to conceal (the womans) dishonor (Tan 2008 and

Wikipedia 2008). In other words, the acceptance to legalize the abortion in the Philippines is

inappropriate to be passed because of the Philippine government we had as well as on the

powerful Roman Catholic Church calling the situation as a human rights crisis. The United

Nations recognizing abortion in the Philippines as a legal act only in instances in which the

pregnant womans life is endangered. However there is no Philippine law that authorizes


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abortion in order to save the womans life: and the general provisions which do penalize abortion

make no qualifications if the womans life is at risk.

For the Philippines is a Christian country, its really difficult to have laws towards

abortion because Catholic Church greatly opposing on the legalization of abortion. At the same

time, legalizing abortion would require a referendum to amend the constitution, although the

enactment of a more definite provision sanctioning the ban was not successful. But

Representative Roy Padilla, Jr. of Camarines Norte (1999) filed House Bill 6343 seeking to

allow abortion in special cases like rape, congenital effects of the fetus or the cases where the

mothers life is at risk. It is unlikely that the the bill will be passed but it has stimulated

discussion on abortion. Then, the passage of HB 6343 will require amendment because the bill as

it presently stands is inherently in constitution (Wikipedia 2008 and Tan 2008).

Shiela Crisostomo, a writer on the Philippine Star published Justifying Circumstances

that abortion in the Philippines could be legal. According to Florence Tadiar, chief executive

director of the Institute for Social Studies and Action (ISSA), abortion is prohibited in the

Revised Penal Code (RPC) of 1930 but there is no specific provision against the procedure in the

constitution. The RPC 1930 was only patterned after a Spanish penal code of 1870 that embodies

Spanish Colonial prohibition on abortion. But, Spanish now has long permitted abortion in some

cases.

Whether the abortion is to be legalized in the Philippines or not, we should value the life

inside the womb. Why should we terminate a life if the person didnt commit any crimes?

Legalization of abortion is not the right way to have a better life because our God is the only one

who has the capability to take our back to Him. Yes, abortion can be another method to lessen


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our population but it is not appropriate to do because it is inhumane. In Philippine constitution, it

is a criminal act. If unwanted pregnancy comes, righting a mistake with another mistake is not

the answer. If ever that the legalization of abortion in the Philippines will be ratified, every

women should be aware that abortion is classified as a crime and against the will of God, though

it is already legal.

B. Foreign Literature

Abortion is a very controversial subject that has been continuously argued over for the

past few years and probably for many more years to come. The issue of abortion is undeniably

linked to maternal mortality. Studies indicated the most common cause of maternal death is

unsafe abortion. To reduce maternal deaths it is needed for some improvement post abortion care

(PAC) as the studies have said.

(Gossa, 1989) Abortion is linked to violence. Only two of these studies attempted to

correlate rape and abortion. In each of these studies rape was cited as the reason for seeking an

abortion in 20-25% of the cases. We are left to guess at the actual occurrences of rape and

violence that go unreported or do not end in a health institution as a pregnancy or an abortion.

Studies and interventions that address gender violence and rape need to elaborate on

outcomes of unwanted pregnancy leading most women to abort their child. Some victims of

violence are asked in relation to abortion, why does unwanted pregnancy occurred. Many blame

it on poor prenatal care, particularly in the groups with the highest rates mainly teenagers and

low socioeconomic groups. But, good prenatal care is almost universally obtainable. The

problem is that the parents in these groups often dont avail themselves of it.


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(ROME, Oct. 11) A comprehensive global study of abortion has concluded that abortion rates

are similar in countries where it is legal and those where it is not, suggesting that outlawing the

procedure does little to discourage women seeking it.

Here in Philippines even though it is illegal, many women having unwanted pregnancy wants to

abort because they are oblige to do it for pride and honor of the family but some doesnt want

any responsibility.

Moreover, the researchers found that abortion was safe in countries where it was legal, but

dangerous in countries where it was outlawed and performed clandestinely. Globally, abortion

accounts for 13 percent of womens deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, and there are 31

abortions for every 100 live births, the study said.

The results of the study, collaboration between scientists from the World Health Organization in

Geneva and the Guttmacher Institute in New York, a reproductive rights group, are being

published Friday in the journal Lancet.

We now have a global picture of induced abortion in the world, covering both countries where

it is legal and countries where laws are very restrictive, Dr. Paul Van Look, director of the

W.H.O. Department of Reproductive Health and Research, said in a telephone interview. What

we see is that the law does not influence a womans decision to have an abortion. If theres an

unplanned pregnancy, it does not matter if the law is restrictive or liberal.

But the legal status of abortion did greatly affect the dangers involved, the researchers said.

Generally, where abortion is legal it will be provided in a safe manner, Dr. Van Look said.

And the opposite is also true: where it is illegal, it is likely to be unsafe, performed under unsafe

conditions by poorly trained providers.


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The data also suggested that the best way to reduce abortion rates was not to make abortion

illegal but to make contraception more widely available, said Sharon Camp, chief executive of

the Guttmacher Institute.

Anti-abortion groups criticized the research, saying that the scientists had jumped to conclusions

from imperfect tallies, often estimates of abortion rates in countries where the procedure was

illegal. These numbers are not definitive and very susceptible to interpretation according to the

agenda of the people who are organizing the data, said Randall K. OBannon, director of

education and research at the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund in Washington.

He said that the major reason women die in the developing world is that hospitals and health

systems lack good doctors and medicines. They have equated the word safe with legal and

unsafe with illegal, which gives you the illusion that to deal with serious medical system

problems you just make abortion legal.

Pro-life groups commonly church leaders and Christians said that abortion is not the answer for

our own mistake because it is life we talk about. It is a scientific fact that fetus is a unique

individual human life. It is not just cells or a parasite, this means that we are not simply talking

about some thing we can treat as property. This is an issue concerning a human life, because

this individual is growing, maturing, developing, and replacing its own dying cells. Based on this

undeniable fact the right to life applies and must be weighed in against all other considerations.


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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study uses the descriptive research design to determine the factors affecting the

degree of acceptance on the legalization of abortion on the Science City of Munoz.

SAMPLE AND SAMPLING

Science City of Munoz settlers from different sectors of society served as participants.

The twenty (20) samples were randomly selected according to their convenient time to answer

certain questions about the legalization on abortion in questionnaire.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The study used a three paged questionnaire which includes the Socio-demographic

characteristics of the samples. This includes the name, address, age, gender, citizenship, religion,

civil status, occupation, and educational attainment. It also includes 21 statements by putting a

check on their corresponding degree of acceptance, and then followed by an open-ended question

answerable with an essay form.


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DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

Research data were gathered through personal distribution of survey questionnaire at

Central Luzon State University and Munoz public market which lasted for one week and two

days (September 18-26, 2010).

DATA ANALYSIS

Analysis and interpretation of data in the study were done using the appropriate statistical

tool. These were frequency counts and percentages to determine the factors affecting the degree

of acceptance on the legalization of abortion on Socio-demographic Characteristics.


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CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Graph 1: Age of the Respondents

Graph 2: Citizenship

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

16-20 y/o 21-40 y/o 41 and above

Series1

1

100%

Filipino


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Graph 3: Gender

Graph 4: Religion

0%

20%

40%

60%

Male

Female

Chart Title

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Roman Catholic

Jehova's witnesses

Series1


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Graph 5: Civil Status

Table 1: Religious Factor

Item ABS YES MYB NO ABN

1. Abortion is againstthe will of God.

11 55% 8 40% 0 0% 0 0% 1 5%

2. My religious secttold me that it is bad.

10 50% 6 30% 3 15% 1 5% 0 0%

3. Abortion is againstChristianity.

10 50% 8 40% 1 5% 1 5% 0 0%

4. Abortion is againstthe ten commandments

of God.

8 40% 11 55% 0 0% 1 5% 0 0%

Average 48.75% 41.25% 5% 3.75% 1.25%

Table 1 shows that majority of the respondents (90%) agrees and have no objections on

statements 1, 2, and 3, and agrees on statement 4. Minority of the respondents (5%) strongly

object on it.

Single

50%Married

45%

Widow

5%

Chart Title


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Table 2: Cultural Factor


1. Abortion is not the

culture of Filipinos.

5 25% 11 55% 1 5% 2 10% 1 5%

2. Abortion would

introduce an immoralcountry.

0 0% 4 20% 6 30% 6 30% 4 20%

Average 12.5% 37.5% 17.5% 20% 12.5%

Table 2 shows that majority of the respondents agrees on the Cultural factor with a

percentage of 50, and minority of them strongly objects on the statements with a percentage of

32.5.

Table 3: Moral Factor


1. Abortion is an act of

killing.

10 50% 6 30% 3 15% 1 5% 0 0%

2. Abortion conflicts

morality.

7 35% 9 45% 3 15% 1 5% 0 0%

3. Legalized abortion would

produce a humanity who

would enter unsafe sex

without thinking of itsconsequences andresponsibilities.

4 20% 10 50% 3 15% 0 0% 3 15%

4. I am against abortionbecause I treasure every

life on earth.

9 45% 9 45% 0 0% 2 10% 0 0%

5. Abortion would regain

the lost confidence ofvictims particularly of rape.

2 10% 8 40% 3 15% 4 20% 3 15%

Average 32% 42% 12% 8% 6%


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Table 3 shows that majority of the respondents agrees on the moral factor with a

percentage of 74 and minority of them strongly objects on the statements with a percentage of

14.

Table 4: Social Factor


1. Abortion is notaccepted by the

society

5 25% 9 45% 3 15% 0 0% 3 15%

2. Abortion can begood because other

countries are

practicing it legally.

1 5% 1 5% 7 35% 8 40% 3 15%

3. It is not society thataffects my perception

towards abortion.

2 10% 8 40% 3 15% 6 30% 1 5%

Average 13.33% 30% 21.67% 23.33% 11.67%

Table 4 shows that majority of the respondents (43.33%) agrees and have no objections

on the preceding statements while minority of the respondents (35%) object on it.

Table 5: Economic Factor


1. Abortion would help

in the control of ourpopulation.

0 0% 4 20% 6 30% 6 30% 4 20%

2. Through abortionand controlled

population oureconomy will rise.

0 0% 2 10% 10 50% 6 30% 2 10%

3. Lesser people,wealthier country.

0 0% 3 15% 10 50% 5 25% 2 10%

Average 0% 15% 43.33% 28.33% 13.33%


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Table 5 shows that the majority of the respondents disagree on the economic factor with a

percentage of 41.66 and minority of them agrees on the statements with a percentage of 15.

Table 6: Health Factor


1. Abortion would reducemortality rate among illegal

abortion patients orvictims.

2 10% 6 30% 6 30% 4 20% 2 10%

2. Abortion can be a new

method of family planning.

0 0% 2 10% 4 20% 10 50% 4 20%

3. Abortion would reduce

death

2 10% 2 10% 4 20% 7 35% 5 25%

4. Abortion can be a newand profitable medicalprocedure.

0 0% 4 20% 5 25% 6 30% 5 25%

5. Abortion would escalatesexually transmitted

diseases.

2 10% 3 15% 11 55% 3 15% 1 5%

Average 6% 17% 30% 30% 17%

Table 6 shows that the majority of the respondents disagree on the health factor with a

percentage of 47 and minority of them agrees on the statements with a percentage of 23.


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ABSTRACT

This study was about the acceptance of the legalization of abortion. It determined the

factors which may/ may not affect the degree of acceptance of the people at Science City of

Muoz about the legalization of abortion namely the religious, cultural, moral, social, economic

and health factor. Data were gathered using a survey questionnaire developed by the researchers.

The questionnaires were distributed to twenty (20) people with different status in life like

(college students, religious people, business persons, medical practitioners, politically inclined

persons and others). Among the twenty (20) respondents twelve were (12) males and eight were

(8) females. The socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents were included such as

their nationality, gender, religion and civil status.

With the six factors involved, the religious, social, cultural and moral was found out to be

related on their degree of acceptance for abortion to be legalized. Two other factors, economic

and health, did not show any relationship to the said topic.

On the contrary, all six factors object on the legalization of abortion in the Philippines.

As a result, majority of the respondents agreed on the rejection of the abortion to be legalized on

the statements under religious factor with a percentage of 90. Next are the moral factor (74%),

cultural factor (50%), then health factor with a percentage of 47, social factor with a percentage

of 43.33 and finally economic factor (41.66%).


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CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn.

1) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion wasfound out to have a percentage of 0 % or none out of the twenty (20) respondents accepts

abortion to be legal in the Philippines.

2) Majority of the respondents were male, Roman Catholic, Filipinos, and single.3) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion is

related with the religious factor having an approval rate of 90%.

4) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion isrelated with the cultural factor having an approval rate of 50%.

5) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion isrelated with the moral factor having an approval rate of 74%.

6) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion isrelated with the social factor having an approval rate of 43.33%.

7) The degree of acceptance of Science City of Munoz on the legalization of abortion is notaffected by the health and economic factor with a low approval percentages of 23 and 15

respectively


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RECOMMENDATION:

Based on the preceding conclusions, the following recommendations were drawn.

1) Further studies should include new variable in the study such as mental factor or temental capability or readiness of the respondents to think, evaluate and respond to the

said topic.

2) Further studies may also tackle the other side of abortion, that is induced abortion oftermination of pregnancy trough medication.


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LITERATURE CITED:

Fortuna, H. Making abortion legal. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/oct/22/yehey/top_stories/20071022top5.html. 2005

SINGH, S., F. JUAREZ, J. CABIGON, H. BALL, R. HUSSAN, J. NADEAU. (2006).Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in the Philippines: Causes andConsequences. New York: Guttmacher Institute. 44.

Hilts, P. J. Abortion in the Philippines. Wikipedia,

2008. date accssed 9January 2008.

Jeppsson A, Tesfu M. and Bohmer L.(1999).Magnitude of abortion-related

complications in Ethiopian health facilities: a national assessment. East Afr Med J. 1999:76 (10):547-551.

Ahmed Abdella . (1996). Retrospective study on abortion admissions in Jimma Hospital,

South West Ethiopia. Ethiop J. Health Dev. 1996; 10(3): 167-170.

Kwast BE, Mekonen Bekele, SeyoumYoseph, Adane Gossa, L.Mehari & Frost O. (1989).Confidential enquiries into maternal deaths in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1981- 1983. J.

Obst. Gyn. East Cent. Afr. 1989; 8: 75-82.

Kwast B.E., Rochat R.W. and Widad Kidane Mariam. (1986). Maternal mortality inAddis Ababa, Ethiopia. Studies in Family Planning, 1986; 17 (6/1): 288-301.

Seyoum Yoseph and Getahun Kifle. (1988). A six-year review of maternal mortality in

a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa. Ethiop. Med. J. 1988;26: 115-20.

Tesfaye Genebo, Mebratu G/Hiwot, Rudolf K. and Donat H. (1987). Review of abortionsat Gondar College of Medical Sciences Hospital. Paper presented at the Gondar College

of Medical Sciences Annual Conference.

Surafel Kebede. (2000).A survey of Illegal Abortion in Jimma Hospital, South WesternEthiopia. Ethiop. Med. J. 2000; 38:35-42.

Abebe G/Mariam, Sissay Wondimagegn, Sileshi Demissie and Aynalem

Abrham.(1989).A review of firstpregnancy in Jimma Hospital. Paper from JimmaUniversity.

Tesfaye Madebo and Tinbit G/Tsadik. (1993). A six-month prospective study on different

aspects of abortion. Ethiop. Med. J. 1993; 31:165-72.

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