In the state of Kerala, data from the Health Management Information System (HMIS) portal shows a significant rise in abortion cases over the past nine years. The number of abortions reported in 2023-24 stands at 30,037, a jump of 76.43% compared to the 17,025 recorded in 2014-15.
This increase is primarily attributed to enhanced accessibility of reproductive healthcare services, which has led to more reported incidents, not necessarily an increase in the actual number of abortions. The data suggests that private hospitals are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for abortion procedures in Kerala, accounting for around 71% (21,282 out of 30,037) of the total cases in the latest reporting year. This is a marked shift from nearly equal distribution between public and private facilities in 2014-15.
The Women and Children Hospital in Kannur MCH has reported the highest number of abortion cases among government hospitals with 1,738 procedures, while the CMS College hospital in Kottayam leads the tally for private hospitals with 3,496 cases.
This trend raises concerns about affordability and equity in access to reproductive healthcare services, as private hospitals often charge higher fees than their public counterparts. However, it also underscores the importance of accessible and affordable reproductive healthcare services, which have played a crucial role in reducing maternal mortality rates and improving overall reproductive health in Kerala.
The Kerala government is urged to address this shift towards private hospitals and take measures to ensure that reproductive healthcare services are made more affordable for all sections of society.
