The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53512

Batya Elul, MSc¹, Hillary Bracken, MHS¹, Shalini Verma, PhD¹, and Sandhya Barge, PhD². (1) Population Council, 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, 212-339-0644, belul@popcouncil.org, (2) Center for Operations Research and Training, Wood Land Apartments, 4th Floor, Race Course Circle, Baroda , Gujarat, 390007, India

For 30 years, following the enactment of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971, women in India have been entitled to legal abortion services. While the Government of India intended for the MTP Act to reduce the incidence of illegal abortion, most women continue to obtain abortions from unlicensed or illegal providers. Indeed, only one million of the estimated 6.7 million abortions that are performed in India each year are believed to be legal. Given this context of clandestine and illegal abortions, not surprisingly, little is known about abortion services in India. In late 2002, we documented the availability, management and organization of abortion services in the public and private (including both formal and informal providers) sectors in the state of Rajasthan. Interviews with 124 providers in the formal sector and 489 providers in the informal sector were used to document their training and/or education, standard clinical and record-keeping practices, knowledge of abortion-related legislation and medical abortifacients, as well as general attitudes towards abortion. The study also highlighted barriers to registration of clinics and certification among eligible formal providers in the private sector.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
• List the type of abortion providers practicing in Rajashtan.
• Describe urban and rural differences in abortion provision in Rajasthan.

Keywords: Abortion, Service Delivery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.