Number of abortions in city rise manifold
Experts feel lack of contraception knowledge is to blame for the trend
The number of abortions in Mumbai has gone up significantly as compared to last year, if civic records are to be believed. As of March this year, 3,238 couples have chosen to get an abortion as opposed to 2,904 last year. According to experts, one of the factors effecting this rise is lack of awareness about the proper use of contraceptives.
Dr AL Sharda, director of Population First, an NGO working on gender issues, said, "Rising cases of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) in the city is an indication that we are lacking in educating people on contraceptive methods. People are aware of contraceptive methods but don't have knowledge on its use. Many avoid it and this leads to unwanted pregnancy and the decision to abort."
Rekha Daver, professor and HoD of gynaecology at the Grant Medical School in JJ Hospital says that the rise in popularity of emergency contraceptives (morning after pills and medical abortion pills) are making young people more callous about the process of abortion. "Most people are not aware that these emergency contraceptives are only 90-95% effective; 5% is quite a big chance to take. Also, these pills only work in very early pregnancies. Sometimes women take them after 3 or 4 months without medical supervision and because there's some heavy bleeding they think that it's worked and don't get medical follow-up. This leads to a lot of unwanted pregnancies. This can result in medical complications."
According to Daver, there needs to be more reproductive health education among children to teach them about safe sex and proper methods of contraception. "Parents need to speak to their children before they reach sexual maturity about these things." She also indicated that abortion should be a very carefully considered option.
There are daily contraceptive pills that women avoid using because they think that these emergency contraceptives will do the trick, says Dr Kiran Coelho, consulting gynaecologist at Lilavati Hospital. "Women do not want to use safe contraceptive methods like daily pills as they are afraid of side effects. They don't realise that it is safer than popping morning after pills. The sale of abortion pills are without a doctor's prescription," she said.
Experts feel lack of contraception knowledge is to blame for the trend
The number of abortions in Mumbai has gone up significantly as compared to last year, if civic records are to be believed. As of March this year, 3,238 couples have chosen to get an abortion as opposed to 2,904 last year. According to experts, one of the factors effecting this rise is lack of awareness about the proper use of contraceptives.
Dr AL Sharda, director of Population First, an NGO working on gender issues, said, "Rising cases of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) in the city is an indication that we are lacking in educating people on contraceptive methods. People are aware of contraceptive methods but don't have knowledge on its use. Many avoid it and this leads to unwanted pregnancy and the decision to abort."
Rekha Daver, professor and HoD of gynaecology at the Grant Medical School in JJ Hospital says that the rise in popularity of emergency contraceptives (morning after pills and medical abortion pills) are making young people more callous about the process of abortion. "Most people are not aware that these emergency contraceptives are only 90-95% effective; 5% is quite a big chance to take. Also, these pills only work in very early pregnancies. Sometimes women take them after 3 or 4 months without medical supervision and because there's some heavy bleeding they think that it's worked and don't get medical follow-up. This leads to a lot of unwanted pregnancies. This can result in medical complications."
According to Daver, there needs to be more reproductive health education among children to teach them about safe sex and proper methods of contraception. "Parents need to speak to their children before they reach sexual maturity about these things." She also indicated that abortion should be a very carefully considered option.
There are daily contraceptive pills that women avoid using because they think that these emergency contraceptives will do the trick, says Dr Kiran Coelho, consulting gynaecologist at Lilavati Hospital. "Women do not want to use safe contraceptive methods like daily pills as they are afraid of side effects. They don't realise that it is safer than popping morning after pills. The sale of abortion pills are without a doctor's prescription," she said.
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