Abstract :
Background: India is one of the few countries to legalize abortion since 1971. However, legalizing abortion has not translated into safe and affordable services. The birth sex ratio in India has been declining since the 1901. Despite the attempts by government to monitor radiologists and genetic laboratories, the Census of India 2011reported a dip in the child sex ratio in states like Maharashtra between 2001 and 2011.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a cross-sectional questionnaire based study in clinics of participating doctors in a district in tribal region of central India. With the help of pre-validated questionnaire the knowledge and perception of registered gynaecologists were noted regarding the recent abortion laws.
Results: 72% respondents were aware of the recent amendments in abortion laws but surprisingly only 54% participants have successfully enumerated them and 28% participants were unaware of the recent amendments in the Act.
Only 24% participants said that amendments in MTP act was very good but still 12% doctors believed that there is a scope for further amendments.
According to 64% participants the PCPNDT Act is acceptable but 12% said record keeping is very difficult and 6% felt that it needs lots of amendments.
Conclusions: Majority of the respondents were aware about the MTP & PCPNDT Acts, surprisingly only 54% participants have successfully enumerated them. According to only 24% participants recent amendments was good, According to 12% they were necessary but still 12% believed that there is a scope for further amendments.
Keyword :
MTP, PCPNDT, Abortion, Sex-ratio.