Some laws relating to population growth: laws directly affecting fertility
Wee Kim Seng, K.
Nursing Journal of Singapore 17(1): 20-24
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0067-5814 PMID: 586576 Document Number: 466917
In Singapore the government policy is to convince as many of its population as possible to adopt the value of the 2-child family. Contraception is recognized as the primary way to reach this goal. Sterilization is considered a supplementary measure, with abortion the more extreme final alternative. As might be expected from the government policy, there is no legal restriction on the individual who wishes to practice contraception. However, persons or associations involved in the promotion or dissemination of family planning information or sale or distribution of family planning methods need to register with the Family Planning and Population Board (FPPB) and be subject to the Board's direction. In 1974, when the sterilization law was further liberalized, Parliament passed the Abortion Act 1974, effective December 27, 1974. This Act replaced the original Abortion Act and provided for abortion on demand subject to certain safeguards. It is required that the abortion be performed by a registered medical practitioner acting on the request of a pregnant woman and with her written consent. The 1 important safeguard laid down by the Act is that no termination of pregnancy shall be carried out if the pregnancy exceeds 24 weeks unless the abortion is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Currently, the government policy in regard to sterilization is to encourage sterilization on the part of both men and women as an effective way of limiting the size of families to 2 children. A number of incentives have been made available to persuade people to undergo sterilization.