The Regional STD Teaching, Training and Research Centre has noticed an upward trend of unmarried adolescent girls going for the deliberate termination of a pregnancy.
According to a survey, it is found termination of pregnancy or abortions are on the rise among teenaged girls as they are gladly ready to have unsafe sexual relations with their partners regardless of the risks involved.
72% of the surveyed girls wanted to continue their relationship even though being emotionally pressured into it.
The survey was conducted in association with the Safdarjung hospital and the Delhi University.
Socio-economic status differs widely, from middle and upper-middle classes, office-goers to migrant labourers like domestic employee( housemaids).
“Consensual sexual activity began at an early age even among socially empowered segments, unprotected sex commonly leading to unwanted pregnancy and abortion, thus further increasing vulnerability to STDs, HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer. Nearly three-fourth respondents intend to continue relationships after abortion, indicating an unending cycle of these problems,” said Dr Sumathi Muralidhar from the Safdarjung hospital-based Regional STD Teaching, Training and Research Centre.
Another situation regarded as unwelcome is many such girls are neglected by a major section of the society and they start seeking help from various outlets. The details available on the Internet like popping a couple of pills to to abort the pregnancy seems very simple for these girls.
“Such cases are common now, as the abortion through web-based consultation is a new trend catching up with youngsters. It poses a threat to life. These girls never turn up at the clinic,” Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj of Nurture IVF Centre said.