Abortion cases reported in city more than triple in three years

In 2009-10, 5,354 abortions were reported in the city. This figure rose to 8,853 abortions in 2010-11, and further increased to 15,959 in 2011-12.

The number of abortions reported in the city has more than tripled in the last three years. Civic officials attributed the rise to better reporting. No causal link has been established between the alarming rise in abortions and cases of sex determination tests in the city.

HT Image

The civic body collects data on abortions conducted in public hospitals as well as private hospitals and clinics.

In 2009-10, 5,354 abortions were reported in the city. This figure rose to 8,853 abortions in 2010-11, and further increased to 15,959 in 2011-12.

“Earlier the reporting was not thorough. Now we get a monthly report from all the registered centres because of which there is a rise in these numbers,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer, BMC’s family welfare department.

According to doctors, an ultrasound test can reveal the sex of the foetus only after the 13th or 14th week of gestation.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act allows abortions up to 20 weeks of pregnancy if it’s an unwanted pregnancy or failure of contraception.

Most women unwilling to go ahead with a pregnancy undergo an abortion during the first trimester (up to 12 weeks of pregnancy). Usually, women with irregular menstrual cycles learn about the pregnancy late and may thus opt for an abortion during their second trimester.

“We can’t say that rise in second trimester abortions is because of sex selection. Ultrasound examinations can detect abnormalities in the foetus in the second trimester and thus abortions are advised,” said Advani.

“Often abortions conducted between 12 and 20 weeks are shown as first-trimester abortions. It is difficult to prove irregularities as patients do the sonography in one clinic and the abortion at another,” said a senior gynecologist.

Interestingly, the number of abortions (medical termination of pregnancy) conducted in the second trimester (between 12 and 20 weeks) of pregnancy increased from 700 to 3,066 between 2009-10 and 2011-12, according to data accessed from the civic body. This has led to concern among a section of doctors.

“Abortions in the second trimester are not common. There is a possibility that couples are waiting to illegally check the sex of the foetus and then opting to abort,” said Dr Rekha Daver, head of gynaecology department of the state-run JJ Hospital.

Abortions conducted during the second trimester require the approval of two doctors. Doctors conducting abortions are expected to fill a form that mentions the reason for the abortion.

“There is a definite rise in the number of women coming for abortions in the second trimester of pregnancy. If we suspect that the woman has done an ultrasound elsewhere and is intending to abort a female foetus, we refuse to conduct the procedure,” said Dr Reshma Rafi, gynaecologist with Asha Parekh Hospital, Santacruz.