Mumbai: A query by Right To Information activist Chetan Kothari seeking statistics on deaths caused by abortion has revealed, over 57 women died after abortion in the past three years in Mumbai, with 36 per cent of them being in the 19-25 age group. “Medical abortions have moved out of clinics and the system has failed to keep track of those numbers.
The data we have now is mostly of surgical abortions, which is a small percentage,” said RTI activist Chetan Kothari. Doctors say some of the reasons women have undergone abortion include rape, apprehension that continuation of the pregnancy could have proved harmful to their health, or because they were diagnosed with disease.
“Some of the deaths were due to comorbidities — heart attacks, diabetes, TB, leptospirosis and excessive bleeding,” he explained. However, experts say law enforcers must see the impact that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has had on teenagers seeking access to safe abortion.
“It could be that they are shying away from accessing services in centres known to report cases (will come into the public domain),” said experts. The numbers could indicate both positive and negative trends. It also points out, the data recorded at BMC centres is only the tip of the iceberg as there is no mechanism to record MTPs using pills.
“It could mean that teenagers know about safer means of contraception and therefore, there are fewer pregnancies. It could also indicate that fewer girls are getting married early. But such change would take decades and not just in three years. Hence, the number could only imply that the adolescents are going elsewhere,” said a gynaecologist.
A gynaecologist from a private hospital said women in live-in relationships sometimes want to abort in the interest of their career. Many government hospitals can be relied on to provide safe abortions, which could be another reason mortality rates have reduced.
“However, what is disturbing is the youth demographic, this is dangerous and merits investigation. The government has provided various options for abortion, such as MTP pills (abortion pills). But there are a few women who approach quacks for this purpose, which increases their risk of death,” she said.
