The number of abortions in the Lumbini region has increased. According to the statistics of the Lumbini State Health Directorate, more than 10% of those who undergo abortions are under the age of 20.
Dor Bahadur Basnet, Statistics Officer of the Health Directorate, Lumbini Province said that 18,785 individuals in the financial year 2019/2020, 17,497 in 2020/2021, and 18,415 people in 2021/2022 had safe abortions. According to Basnet, 35,478 abortions were medical abortions and 19,219 were surgical abortions. Ruppandehi has the highest number of abortions among the 12 districts of the Lumbini region. It is mentioned in the data that 12,058 people took safe abortion services in Rupandehi.
Not everyone had access earlier due to the low number of registered health institutions. However, with the increase in the number of registered health institutions, the number of safe abortion service providers may have increased.
Dr. Shakuntala Gupta, Medical Superintendent, and Gynecologist, at Bhim Hospital, Bhairahawa said that the number of abortions has increased due to unsafe sexual intercourse at a young age. Young individuals are hesitant to opt for temporary means of family planning.
Gupta suggests that safe abortion prevents future health problems in women. It is observed that the number of teenage girls taking safe abortion services in Lumbini province is increasing. About 10 percent of abortions are under the age of 20. Basnet says that he has witnessed individuals aged 15/16 years approach safe abortion centers for abortions.
Hema Neupane, Advocate and human rights activist expressed it is harrowing that the statistics show 10% of women under 20 years receiving abortion services. The legal age of marriage for women is 20 years old, abortion arises when marriage is done against the law.
According to Dor Bahadur Basnet, Statistics Officer of the Health Directorate, Lumbini Province, 4,815 women up to the age of 20 had abortions during the three years from 2019/2020 to 2021/2022 which makes up 10% of the total abortions.
Basnet said that there are safe abortions as well as unsafe abortions in Lumbini province. Shyamu Aryal, DSP of Luzilla Police Office, Ruppandehi says that such incidents of unsafe abortions are also reported to the police.
According to the Safe Maternal and Reproductive Health Rights Act, of 2018, abortion can be legally carried out within 12 weeks of conception with the consent of a pregnant woman. Women can under abortion at 28 weeks of conception under the following circumstances with an opinion of a licensed physician: the life of the pregnant woman may be in danger if the child is to be born with a disability, a woman conceives due to rape or incest if the child might have immunodeficiency virus (AIV) or of an incurable disease, and if the fetus cannot survive even after birth or may disability due to genetic defects or any other reason.