HYDERABAD: The case of a 19-year-old girl, who visited a local clinic in Vanasthalipuram to get an abortion has brought to light the low level of awareness among youngsters regarding safe sex and contraception.Gynecologists at private clinics say that each of them sees at least 10 women seeking abortions every month and say it points to a lack of awareness about available contraceptive options and safe sex methods.
Dr Manjula Anagani, a practising gynecologist at a private hospital in Madhapur said that women coming from different backgrounds approach this differently. While the urban, educated women, who recognise their rights are often aware that terminating pregnancies in the first trimester has no side-effects, those coming from poor and lower middle class families come with a number of fears leading to delay and harmful consequences.
“Often the men decide what needs to be done with the pregnancy in case of women from the second category. Certain women with irregular menstrual cycles do not realise until they are 12 weeks into the pregnancy. In any case, we follow guidelines of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act,” said the doctor.
Dr Manjula added that most times, those who seek abortion are not aware that once it crosses 12 weeks, the procedure is far more complex and needs to be done under professional guidance. “This is one of the main reasons the woman in Monday’s case succumbed,” she said.
Dr Vindhya Gemaraju, who practices at another private hospital in the city stated that failed contraceptives is the most common reason why women seek abortion. “Most of them are under the misconception that pills like I-Pill or Unwanted 72 can help, but those are only emergency contraceptives. They have harmful effects in the long run. Young men and women need to be aware that there are other contraceptive options like condoms, contraceptive vaginal rings, intrauterine devices or even oral contraceptives,” she explained.
Provisions of the MTP Act, 1971
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 provides access to safe abortion to women and offers protection to medical practitioners who otherwise would be penalised under Section 315, 316 of the IPC
Under the Act, pregnancy can be terminated up to 20 weeks, with the consent of the woman if the doctor is of the opinion that its continuance may involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or if there is substantial risk that if the child were born, it would suffer from mental or physical abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped
In case the length of pregnancy is 12 weeks, consent of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) is required
However, between 12 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, opinion of 2 RMPs is required