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Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: Techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border

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  • Belton, Suzanne
  • Whittaker, Andrea

Abstract

Forced migrants face particular reproductive health problems. Migrant Burmese women in Thailand often need to work to support themselves and their families, and mistimed and unwanted pregnancies are a common problem. They have limited access to culturally appropriate reproductive health services and no access to safe elective abortion. They are at risk of deportation or at least harassment by Thai authorities if they travel. They use traditional methods such as herbal medicines, and employ lay midwives to provide pummelling and stick abortions to end their pregnancies. This ethnographic study used various methods to collect data over 10 months in Tak Province, Thailand. The authors describe the women's motives and means of ending their pregnancies and some of the difficulties in obtaining reliable modern methods of contraception. This study highlights the need for reproductive health care for displaced populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Belton, Suzanne & Whittaker, Andrea, 2007. "Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: Techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(7), pages 1512-1523, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:65:y:2007:i:7:p:1512-1523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sobo, E. J., 1996. "Abortion traditions in rural Jamaica," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 495-508, February.
    2. Palmer, Celia A. & Lush, Louisiana & Zwi, Anthony B., 1999. "The emerging international policy agenda for reproductive health services in conflict settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 49(12), pages 1689-1703, December.
    3. Van Esterik, Penny, 1988. "To strengthen and refresh: Herbal therapy in Southeast Asia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(8), pages 751-759, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Grady Arnott & Eh Tho & Niru Guroong & Angel M Foster, 2017. "To be, or not to be, referred: A qualitative study of women from Burma's access to legal abortion care in Thailand," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Titaree Phanwichatkul & Elaine Burns & Pranee Liamputtong & Virginia Schmied, 2019. "Migrant Burmese women living in southern Thailand and motherhood: An ethnographic study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(3), pages 390-398, September.

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