The ‘unique’ part of the Northern Territory’s abortion data

THREE in four women who have an abortion in the NT have it in the first nine weeks of pregnancy, shows new data

NT women are now able to get an abortion outside of a hospital

THREE in four women who have an abortion in the NT have it in the first nine weeks of pregnancy, shows new data.

NT Health Department data showed in the year from July 1 2017, when the NT’s abortion laws were overhauled, there were 742 pregnancy terminations in the Territory.

NT woman shares her distressing story of seeking an abortion

Of that number, 541 — or 73 per cent of all abortions — were early medical terminations outside of NT hospitals.

Family Planning Welfare Association NT chairwoman associate professor Suzanne Belton welcomed the research, but wasn’t surprised by the data.

“What is super interesting is that we now are doing 73 per cent of all abortions early,” she said.

“That doesn’t occur anywhere else in Australia. That is unique.”

NEW Northern Territory abortion law to come into effect on July 1

On July 1 2017, the NT’s Termination of Pregnancy Law Reform Act was introduced.

It legalised the use of the termination drug RU486 for up to nine weeks’ gestation and removed abortion from the criminal code.

Minister for Health Natasha Fyles speaks during a presser. PICTURE: KERI MEGELUS

Prof Belton said the Act made accessing reproductive health services easier, as it allowed the termination of pregnancy to be performed outside of hospitals.

“Women always choose to get early abortions if they can; this is a good news story for women’s health,” she said.

“The NT Government needs to be congratulated for reforming the abortion law in 2017. There were some claims this (legislation) would bring a flurry of abortions, but that simply is not the case.”

NT Health Department figures show the termination of pregnancy rate in the NT is 13.1, lower than both WA and SA — the only comparable Australian jurisdictions.

It also found 31.27 per cent of women having an abortion in the NT were 25-29 years.

NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the report showed early medical terminations had been “well accepted” by Territory women and medical practitioners. “Access to early medical terminations allows the delivery of quality health services closer to where the woman lives,” she said.