Legalized but Silenced: Advertising, Communication, and the Challenge of Abortion Services in Thailand

Abstract

This academic article aims to analyze and synthesize the current situation of communication for accessing safe abortion services through a review of both domestic and international literature. The study finds that Thailand has enacted laws supporting safe abortion and established the “Unplanned Pregnancy Hotline (1663)” to provide counseling, screening, and referral to authorized health facilities under the national benefit scheme. However, Thai sociocultural norms still constrain open and explicit communication about abortion, creating barriers to service accessibility and allowing illegal online advertisements of abortion pills to proliferate. Compared with international practices, communication strategies in other countries are more transparent and proactive. Hotlines and reproductive health organizations abroad provide clear and empathetic information about counseling, self-managed abortion, financial support, and personal experiences through diverse media platforms. The study suggests that Thailand should learn from both domestic and global experiences to develop communication strategies suitable for its cultural context. Strengthening evidence-based and rights-oriented communication will enhance public understanding, reduce misinformation, and promote equitable access to safe and legal abortion services. These improvements would help alleviate the national public health burden and prevent unnecessary human losses caused by unsafe abortion.