ILLEGAL ABORTIONS: A GRAVE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN INDIA

Abstract

Abortion has become a critical issue in recent times, questioning the reproductive rights of the women which encircles around whether to prevent or terminate the child in womb. Thus, it becomes importance to ponder over the issue of abortion and abortion practices in India. Abortions have always been a topic for debates, discussions and concerns. At different junctures in history, the issue of abortion has been raised to witness differing opinions of scholars, jurists, governments and the common man. Some have been supportive of this issue and some always against the notion of abortion. But this issue needs a discussion with concerted efforts to arrive at the optimal perspective as abortion is an issue of serious health concern that has been accorded to women. Thousands of deaths are reported from unsafe abortions due to lack of trained abortion providers, lack of knowledge about the legality of abortion and availability of safe services, compounded by the social stigma surrounding abortion.