Telangana State registers fewer abortions compared to other States

Hyderabad: Telangana is among the few States in the country where the number of abortions conducted is less in number. If we look at overall figures from all States and UTs in 2019-20 (until December), nearly 9.5 lakh abortions were conducted.

Telangana reported 5,062 abortions in this period. Medical experts feel the less number of abortions might be a good sign, but doubts are being expressed if all such cases are being properly reported within the State.

Maharashtra (1.46 lakh abortions), Assam (93,647), West Bengal (nearly 95,000) and Tamil Nadu (nearly 83,000) are in the top 4 when it comes to the highest number of abortions.

Dr Savitha Desai, a senior gynaecologist from the city, felt that less number of abortions in Telangana has to be welcomed. She also stressed that if there are any loopholes in the system in reporting of abortions it has to be addressed so that every abortion if done has to be registered on paper.

If we look at the last four years (from 2016 onwards) data, the overall figure in the country stands at over 45 lakh and Telangana accounted for 27,559 abortions in this period.

A senior official from the Health department stated that every delivery being held in any hospital (government or private) is being reported without fail to authorities but, but he doubted if the same thing was happening with abortions.

The official stressed on strengthening monitoring mechanism at all levels so that every single abortion should be registered.