Abortion in Nepal

Nepal legalised abortion in March 2002, under the 11th Amendment to the Civil Code. The legal services were successfully implemented on December 25, 2003.[1] The high maternal mortality rates in Nepal lead to the government legalising it. More than 5,00,000 women sought abortion between 2004–2014.[2] In 2014, 323,100 women in Nepal had the abortion, among this, only 42% of abortions were legal and 19% were treated for abortion complications. Similar study had found the rate of unintended pregnancy as 50%.[3]

Methods for Abortion

According to the services provided by the government, women are allowed to choose between Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) and Medical Abortion (MA) abortion procedures.

Manual Vacuum Aspiration: It is a moderately invasive procedure where cervical dilators are used and suction is applied to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.[4]

Medical Abortion: Medical Abortion is a method most often combining a series of two types of oral pills taken to terminate the pregnancy. The experience is similar to a miscarriage and many patients feel it is a less invasive option.[5]

Abortion Law in Nepal

Prior to 2002, Nepal had strict anti-abortion laws which ensured not only the imprisonment of the pregnant women who seek abortion but also their family members. In fact about 20% of women prisoners were imprisoned for abortion-related choices.[6]

According to the law, women had access to legal abortion only under the following conditions

·        The pregnancy must be under 12 weeks of gestation. If the woman is above 16 years of age, she does not require the permission of her husband or her guardian.

·        In the case of rape or incest, the pregnancy must be under 18 weeks of gestation.

·        If recommended by the doctor, at any stage of the pregnancy if it poses danger to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or if the foetus suffers from severe physical deformity.[7]

References
  1. Worrell, Marc. "Nepal: Abortion law". Women on Waves. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  2. Bhandari, T. R.; Dangal, G. (2015-08-17). "Abortion Practices in Nepal: What does Evidence Show?". Nepal Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 10 (1): 3–11. doi:10.3126/njog.v10i1.13186. ISSN 1999-8546.
  3. Puri, Mahesh; Singh, Susheela; Sundaram, Aparna; Hussain, Rubina; Tamang, Anand; Crowell, Marjorie (2016). "Abortion Incidence and Unintended Pregnancy in Nepal". International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 42 (4): 197–209. doi:10.1363/42e2116. ISSN 1944-0391. JSTOR 10.1363/42e2116. PMC 5568822. PMID 28825899.
  4. "Vacuum Aspiration for Abortion | CS Mott Children's Hospital | Michigan Medicine". www.mottchildren.org. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  5. "10 Things You Should Know about Abortion Service in Nepal". The ASAP Blog. 2015-08-24. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  6. Wu, Wan-Ju; Maru, Sheela; Regmi, Kiran; Basnett, Indira (June 2017). "Abortion Care in Nepal, 15 Years after Legalization". Health and Human Rights. 19 (1): 221–230. ISSN 1079-0969. PMC 5473051. PMID 28630554.
  7. Worrell, Marc. "Nepal: Abortion law". Women on Waves. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
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