Abortion in India

Despite the legalisation of abortion in India in 1971 and new laws/regulations introduced in 2002 and 2021, and notwithstanding the positive impact of Medical Abortion, the sad reality is that morbidity and mortality continue to remain worrisome for many women undergoing abortions. In the early 2000s, a lack of reliable information, wide regional and rural–urban differences and a thin research base made it difficult for policymakers, administrators and women’s health advocates to develop strategic interventions.

The earlier edition of this book used the in-depth qualitative research studies done in the early 2000s to highlight issues that emerged. These studies were part of the Abortion Assessment Project – India (AAP-I) jointly anchored by the Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) and HealthWatch. The studies included sought to build a body of knowledge on all facets of induced abortion, such as the unmet needs for contraception and abortion, the son preference, the preference for private providers and the neglected needs of the single, widowed or separated women, to list policy-level and on-ground implementation issues. More crucially, they highlight the need to integrate diverse viewpoints that would further ease progression towards the common goal of making abortion an infrequently used but safe alternative for women faced with an unwanted pregnancy.

The second edition revisits the studies in light of demographic shifts, changing social attitudes, technological advances and expanded access to medical abortion, reflecting evolving reproductive rights in India. The book will be of interest to health activists and researchers, policymakers and programme implementers, and those studying gender issues.