Admn. mulling counselling for those terminating pregnancy

The Dakshina Kannada district administration is contemplating providing services of counsellors for women who are terminating their pregnancy for non-medical reasons.

Speaking at an inter-district workshop on Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act here on Wednesday, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer R. Selvamani said that the use of counsellors was to reduce the number of spontaneous termination of pregnancy, which is high in Dakshina Kannada. The district administration wants to encourage the use of contraceptives.

While clarifying that the district administration is not for stopping termination of pregnancy, which is a right of a pregnant woman, Mr. Selvamani said that those terminating their pregnancy for non-medical reasons can be sent to counsellors. “Counsellors can talk to these women and know the real reason for termination of pregnancy,” he said.

Principal of Department of Health and Family Welfare’s District Training Centre in Surathkal Ramachandra A. Bairy said that it was of concern to see the child sex ratio of Dakshina Kannada as per the 2011 census at 947 girls for every 1,000 boys, which was below than the State average of 948. The neighbouring Udupi district, which shares the same cultural values with Dakshina Kannada, is better placed at 958.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts and Kasaragod district in Kerala are among those in the red zone because of low child sex ratio, he said.

Professor, Department of Community Medicine, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Rashmi Kundapura said that a study on termination of pregnancies in the last two months in the district showed more number of spontaneous abortions. “Why a majority of them (discharge summaries) mention spontaneous abortion. There is not a single case mentioning termination as per wish of the woman,” she said and added that if there are any anomalies in reporting termination of pregnancy they need to be addressed.

Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B. Rupesh said that the workshop will help in finding the reason for low child sex ratio and help the district administration to bridge the gap. Ms. Rupesh sought from experts a future plan of action that can be effectively implemented.