Complications following illegally induced abortions have been recognised as an important cause of mortality and morbidity in Myanmar.

The Indian Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act came into force in 1972, in response to the high mortality and morbidity associated with illegal abortion. However, 25 years on, both restrictions in the law and the way it is implemented through service delivery have failed to meet the aborti

In a vast, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like India, it is to be expected that we have several world-views operating at the same time in people's search for health and healing.

Abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and contributes significantly to maternal morbidity.

Doctors in India are questioning the ethics of a study which observed the natural course of precancerous uterine cervical lesions without treatment in women who had not given written consent to take part.

Persons testing positive for infection by HIV or showing evidence of AIDS provoke revulsion and fear in medical doctors. These reactions stem from the general knowledge that the diagnosis of AIDS is akin to a death sentence and the belief that a positive HIV test is, inevitably.

There can be little doubt that the last two hundred years have seen advances in health which have seldom before been witnessed in human history.

In many developing countries, women's activities, traditionally confined to the household, have changed over time.

Literature is replete with images of the reproductive profligacy of the poor in India. In much popular nderstanding, this is frequently adduced as the cause of the poverty of the poor and indeed of the country.

Should we fear the destruction of our culture because a 30-year-old woman from Chandigarh plans to `rent' her womb?