Abortions exceed births in Parbat

By Our Correspondent,Parbat, Sept. 13: Recent data from Parbat District reveals that the number of abortion cases has exceeded the number of births over the past three years. 

In the fiscal year 2021/22, Parbat recorded 792 births compared to 1,140 abortions. 

The following year, 2022/23, saw 689 births against 963 abortions. The latest figures for 2023/24 recorded 551 births and 830 abortions.

According to the Health Office, Kushma Municipality records the highest number of abortions, followed by Paiyun Rural Municipality and Phalebas Municipality. 

In Kushma Municipality 580 women each received abortion services in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and 510 cases in 2023/24 due to the safe abortion services provided by the Marie Stopes Centre and the district hospital. 

Similarly, Modi Rural Municipality saw 23, 19, and 23 abortion cases during the same period, while Jaljala Rural Municipality reported 60, 44, and 33 cases respectively. 

Likewise, Phalebas Municipality had 123 abortions in 2021/22,  85 in 2022/23, and 103 in 2023/24.

In the same way, Paiyun Rural Municipality recorded 96 abortion cases in 2021/22, 128 cases in 2022/23 and 113 in 2023/24, while Bihadi reported 93 abortion cases in 2021/22, 89 in 2022/23 and 29 in 2023/24, and Mahashila had 40 cases in 2021/22, 23 in 2022/23 and 29 in 2023/24.

Prabin Sharma, Chief of the District Health Office, reported that many abortion cases remain unreported in the district because individuals often seek services outside the area.

According to the office, increased awareness among women in the district has led to more abortions to prevent unwanted pregnancies. 

Recently, there has been an increase in women seeking abortions due to pregnancies resulting from unsafe or illegal sexual encounters.

“Abortion is not bad,” said Sharma, adding, “It is a matter of women’s rights to choose whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy, and they are exercising their rights accordingly.”

Moreover, the District Health Office reported that 100 per cent of women in Parbat are now opting for institutional birthing centres for their deliveries.