Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether as per a recent Lancet Global Health Report the reliable information on the incidence of induced abortion is lacking and official statistics and national surveys provide incomplete coverage in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to address the gaps on abortion evidence?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (c): The Lancet Global Health Report was based on the extrapolation of estimates from study carried out in six states, namely Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, for projection of national estimates, whereas the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) IV, 2015-16 was conducted across States and UTs and is based on a representative sample. It reports 9.8% of total pregnancies had a non-live birth which includes 3.4% of induced abortions.
NFHS captures data about abortionon following indicators:
• percentage of pregnancies resulted in abortion
• place of abortion
• person who performed abortion
• complications from abortion
• treatment for the complications
• place of treatment
Under Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules and Regulations (2003), monthly reporting of total number of cases of MTP in prescribed format is mandatory which is sent from MTP sitesto the district authorities.
The States/UTs send compiled report on MTP cases to MoHFW on a quarterly basis.
The Health Management Information System (HMIS) captures data on induced and spontaneous abortions in the country and periodic analysis and review of reported data is also carried out.