Gender Equality MARCH 2020 Gender Equality | Page 15

On the other hand, although the above mentioned law legalizes voluntary miscarriage up to week
10, the voluntary miscarriage pace has gradually declined since the 1990s with the application of
direct service model in the Country. “Reproductive Health Services”, significantly important from
the standpoint of women’s health, are being provided by the first level heath care facilities that are
set Country wide within the scope of “Basic Health Services”.
Although Reproductive Health Services target all 10 age groups and both sexes, the highest focus is
on “Safe Motherhood” services (as it was the case in the International Development and Population
Conference (ICPD), held in 1994 in Cairo). Indeed, Turkey has undersigned ICPD’s all suggestions
without any reservation, and since then, started developing programs which handle the Countries
traditional “Mother Infant Health” approach on a more comprehensive basis, tackle men and
women within the scope of life cycle approach, and arrange types and quantities of services based
on needs. “Women’s Health and Family Planning- National Strategic Action Plan” has been prepared
in 1996 in parallel with ICPD. However, it has been updated in accordance with the developments
and necessities in 2005 and was referred to as “Sexual and Reproductive Health National Strategic
Action Plan for Health Sector.
The Plan puts forward Turkey’s targets, priorities, and necessary actions for the period covering
2005-2015. This Strategic Plan defines priority areas of Turkey as reduction of maternal mortality,
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