Lok Sabha Question No. 599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Unsafe Abortion
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th JULY, 2018

## UNSAFE ABORTION

## 599. SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has noticed that despite being legal for the last four decades almost 60 percent procedures of abortion conducted in the country are unsafe and falling far behind normal and safe practices and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted an enquiry into the matter with spec fic references on the impact of unsafe abortions suffered by women in rural areas;

- (c) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise;

(d) whether any recommendation by any expert committee has been vetted by the Government suggesting creation of facilities in various rural clinics; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to prevent unsafe/illegal abortions in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a) to (c):

- Studies on the prevalence and trends of unsafe abortion in India are extremely li There  is  no  direct  evidence  on  the  proportion  of  abortion  conducted  under  uns conditions in India.
- According to National Health and Family Survey 4 (2015 - 16) 47% of the abortion are conducted by Nurse or ANM, or LHV, Dai, family members, and self, while the 53% abortions are performed by a medical doctor.
- The survey also reports around one - third (27.4 %) of abortion are conducted at home and 19% women faced complications after abortion.
- No specific enquiry has been conducted with references of the impact of unsafe abo on women in rural areas.

(d) & (e): Provision of comprehensive safe abortion care services is an important component of RMNCH+A program under Govt. of India.

National consultations have been done with participants from States/UTs and decis taken in the consultations were implemented for providing safe comprehensive abortion services.

National  Health  Mission  (NHM)  provides  support  to  the  states  for  provision Comprehensive  Abortion  Care  (CAC)  throughout  the  country.Steps  taken  to  reduce  unsaf abortions in the country which include:

- CAC Service Delivery and Training Guidelinesissued across the country.National CAC Training and Service Delivery Guidelines were developed in 2010 and an updated CAC Training Package was released in 2014.
- Operationalization  of  CAC  services  at  public  health  facilities  including  24*7  P FRUs (DHs/ SDHs /CHCs).
- Establishment  of  Model  CAC  Centres  across  states  to  demonstrate  quality  in  CAC training and service delivery is also being implemented.
- Supply  of  Nischay  Pregnancy  detection  kits  to  sub  centres  for  early  detectio pregnancy.
- Capacity Building of Medical Officers (MOs) in Safe Abortion Techniques and of ANMs, ASHAs to facilitate awareness generation and counselling .
- Medical Methods of Abortion Re - orientation Package based on e - learning modules has also been implemented for cap acity building of MOs.
- Provision of fundsto states/ UTs for
1. Procurement of equipment and drugs
2. Implementation  of  Information  Education  &  Communication/  Behaviour  Change Communication (IEC/BCC) activities
- Authorization and certification of private  and NGO sector  facilities to provide quality abortion services.
- Steps have been taken to promote and provide post - abortion contraceptive services and family planning counseling to the beneficiaries.
- Regular monitoring of CAC data and planning of further step s based on its analysis is also undertaken.