80,000 women die during abortions every year in India

Around 11 million abortions are carried out in India every year and nearly 80,000 women die during the process, according to a research.
A majority of abortions are performed by untrained hands and studies suggest that nearly 80,000 women die due to unsafe abortions, Dr Hema Divakar, Chairperson of Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies in India (FOGSI), said in Bangalore.

Stressing on the need to promote awareness about emergency contraception methods, she said research shows that 78 per cent of pregnancies in the country are unplanned, of which 25 per cent are unwanted, leading to approximately 11 million abortions annually.

"The level of emergency contraception is abysmally low in India," she told reporters on Wednesday quoting from a WHO research, adding that only one out of 100 women were aware of it.

Recent advertisements had created some awareness, but the sale of these contraceptives was yet to pick up, she said.

An Emergency Contraceptive (EC) can prevent pregnancy by over 80 per cent if taken within 72 hours of intercourse.

However, these pills are to be taken only in an emergency and not as a regular form of contraception, she added.

Clearing misconceptions associated with EC, she it was not an abortion pill and cannot abort a foetus once pregnancy is established.

EC acts as an interceptive agent that prevents ovulation, fertilisation or implantation depending on the phase of menstrual cycle, Divakar added.

Proper and timely use of EC pills can bring down the spiralling unsafe abortions, she added.

Dismissing allegations that EC would lead to an increase in sexual activity among youth, Divakar said, "It will only prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions. In a country like India, where women are not often empowered to take decisions, EC could help in not burdening them with unwanted pregnancies."

Rekha Gogi, Medical Officer, Family Planning Association of India, said promiscuity and sexual activity among youth has always been there. "It is only now that it is coming out in the open."

However, she did agree that pregnancies among unmarried women had been on the rise in the past few years.

"The EC will only help in cutting down the number of unsafe abortions that many of these try to resort to when they are pregnant."

Divakar said that flexible job hours, growing presence of call centres and educational institutions have led to an increase in the sexual activity among the youth in Bangalore.

Teenage smoking may harm brain: study

Smoking can be harmful not only for health but for the development of brain especially when taken during teenage stage.
Brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of tobacco during adolescence, when it rapidly matures.

Researchers have shown that young smokers, particularly boys are more likely to suffer hearing problems making it harder for them to focus in class.

"The levels of disruption (to hearing) are significant enough that if you were already struggling at school it could tip you towards school failure," said Dr Leslie Jacobsen, a paediatric psychiatrist at Yale University in the United States.

Dr Jacobsen looked at the effect of smoking and brain development in a group of youngsters aged between 14 and 19.

The changes found in the regions responsible for relaying signals to the ear were greatest in the smokers suggesting the brain is at heightened risk while maturing during adolescence, the magazine reports.

The study added to research showing nicotine can affect brain development in the womb, said Dr Richard Todd a child psychiatrist in the US state of Missouri.

"It seems the brain remains vulnerable long into adolescence," he said.

Previous research has shown toddlers whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are up to 12 times more likely to be disruptive, aggressive and withdrawn.

Smoking in pregnancy is also linked to a host of health problems, including still birth and premature birth.

It has also been linked to the risk of cot death.

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