A joint study of annual reports of Maternity Hospital and Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) shows that 581 teenagers underwent abortion in 2008, while the number stood at 1,065 in 2009. [break]
In 2008 and 2009, Maternity Hospital provided abortion service to 60 and 191 teenagers respectively. On the other side, FPAN helped 521 and 874 teenagers undergo abortions in the respective years.
"One reason behind the increased rate of abortion is the availability of safe abortion services," Ashwini Rana of FPAN, who has been working as a counselor for the past two decades said.
Rana points out to numerous reasons why increasing number of teenage girls are undergoing abortions.
"Youths´ carelessness in taking contraceptives due to lack of knowledge, and their own decision to have unsafe sex is one of the reasons for abortion," she says.
Another reason could be due to lack of proper health education in both colleges and schools.
Rana believes that detailed knowledge regarding sexual intercourse and prevention measures are missing. As a result, she says, college students are not aware. Had they only been aware, they would not have to resort to abortion.
The third reason, Rana points is the rumor that using family planning methods in the long run could create infertility. "This however is not true. Unlike abortion, this has a little side effect, but does not affect one´s health and cause infertility," she adds.
In a society where sex is still a taboo, and aborting teenagers is way beyond imagination, large number of teenagers who come to abort seek confidentiality and usually come alone.
Instead of undergoing abortions, we ask couples to get married. However, they are reluctant to marry because of their studies and lack of economic independence.
Rana says that at times, girls are lured and they unwillingly get pregnant.
Dr Bina Shrestha says that if only they could impart sexual and reproductive education in schools and colleges with the help of posters, books and interactive programs, cases of abortions would decrease.
"Some think that teaching this topic could encourage social evil, but I don´t think it does. Instead, teenagers and women would get the opportunity to practice safe sex," Shrestha said.
Shrestha further believes that in a male dominated society like ours, compared to women, it´s the male who need education to a larger degree regarding sexual and reproductive rights and women´s rights.
In 2002, abortion was legalized in Nepal and many public hospitals since then have been providing the service. It has become a safe choice for women to end unwanted pregnancies.
Abortion by 14-year-old
Some two years ago, a girl of 14 aborted a fetus at FPAN. She was seduced by a man who was much older than her, and whom, she called elder brother, according to Ashwini Rana, a counselor at FPAN. Upon getting her pregnant, the man fled and was no where to be found. Further details however were not known.
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