Borders of Fertility: Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in Burmese Women Migrating to Thailand

Abstract

Burmese women are forced to migrate to find work and security in Thailand due to the social, political, and economic disarray present in Burma. Unplanned pregnancies are common in this area, and one third of pregnancy loss is self-induced. Poverty, lack of employment rights, and domestic violence are important factors in deciding to terminate the pregnancy. Women face multiple barriers in managing their fertility and use traditional techniques often with the help of lay midwives. The research methods include a retrospective review of medical records held in Thai and Burmese-led health facilities, as well as semistructured interviews and group discussions with Burmese women experiencing a pregnancy loss, Burmese traditional and modern health workers, and their husbands and community members.