ABSTRACT
Abortion was liberalised in India after the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act came into the effect on 1 April 1972, according to which a pregnancy may be terminated within 20 weeks of gestation. This chapter focuses on a study of two purposively selected villages on the fringe of Pune city. The study objectives were: to determine the role women themselves play in decision-making about abortion; and to identify the various reasons why women choose to abort; and so on. It presents the background and demographic characteristics of abortion seekers in terms of educational level, occupation and standard of living. The reason why a woman seeks abortion may differ from one abortion to another, depending on her socio-economic situation and the stage of life she is in at the time of seeking abortion. The 65 women who had had abortions were asked their views on sex-selection.
