According to the research of 2014 done by Guttmacher Institute in Nepal, out of the total maternal deaths in Nepal, seven percent death is caused by unsafe abortion.
ROLPA, Sept 8: At least 12 health institutions including Rolpa District Hospital in Rolpa provide safe abortion, a non-surgical abortion that is done by using medicines, for unwanted pregnancy of up to nine weeks free of cost. The hospital and two primary health centers also provide safe clinical abortion, which is done by using medical equipment, for fetus up to 12 weeks for free.
But, an increasing number of youths are found to be resorting to unsafe abortion instead of using contraceptives even as such abortion practice is not only costly but also risks their own life.
Hospital officials informed that youths aren't taking reliable and safe medical services for their pregnancy-related cases. Government doctors also said that medicines in private health facilities are even sold illegally.
Misconception about contraceptives affecting mental and physica...
According to a record at the district hospital, at least 59 patients required blood while 16 of them needed emergency blood transfusion following excessive bleeding due to unsafe abortion last fiscal year.
There are many more unsafe abortion cases, which go unrecorded. Girls, after taking medicine to abort, come to hospital for treatment after excessive bleeding, says Mina Kawar, staff nurse at the Rolpa Hospital.
According to Dr. Prakriti Bhattarai of Sulichaur Primary Health Center, unsafe abortion has been rampant in Rolpa.
Dr. Prakash Bahadur Budha, a doctor at Rolpa District Hospital said, “Data speaks more than us. Unsafe abortion is rampant in Rolpa.”
He added, “Girls due to fear of secrecy, don't come to get free abortion service in public hospital but rather buy medicine from private hospitals.”
When asked about the possible cause of the current situation of unsafe abortion in Rolpa, Budha explained that the condition is more prevalent among unmarried girl due to lack of awareness of family planning and use of contraceptives among young girls.
“Girls of Rolpa are suffering more as they are not using the nearby abortion service provided to them. They should be informed to use contraceptives first of all. Abortion should be secondary option for girls to terminate unwanted pregnancy, which is provided as a free service by public hospitals and health posts here,” added Budha.
According to an American organization, Guttmacher Institute, approximately 25 million women go through unsafe abortion in the world. The research suggests that more women from developing nations undergo unsafe abortion. About 44,000 women die due to unsafe abortion every year in the world and of the total maternal deaths, around 7.9 percent are due to unsafe abortions.
According to the research of 2014 done by Guttmacher Institute in Nepal, out of the total maternal deaths in Nepal, seven percent death is caused by unsafe abortion.
The research also mentions that approximately, 332,000 women undergo abortion in Nepal among which 186,140 women go through unsafe abortion.
The Constitution of Nepal-2015 has empowered women with the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health. However, the local bodies haven't taken any steps to create awareness programs on family planning and use of contraceptives.
