Gender ratio declining, Haryana targets 100% pregnancy registration

Facing criticism over a six-point decline in sex ratio at birth (SRB) in Haryana from 916 in 2023 to 910 in 2024, the state health authorities are now aiming to achieve 100 per cent registration of pregnancies during the first trimester to curb female foeticide.

Six-point fall

916

SEX RATIO at birth in 2023

910

SEX RATIO at birth in 2024

Currently, the registration rate for first-trimester antenatal care (ANC) at government facilities across various districts of Haryana ranges from 50 per cent to 80 per cent, with a higher number of pregnant women registering in the second and third trimesters.

Taking a serious note of the gap, the authorities have not only told civil surgeons to ensure 100 per cent ANC registrations within their districts during the first trimester, but also to issue show-cause notices to health officials where the count was low. The officials to be held accountable include medical officers, accredited social health activists (ASHA) and multi-purpose health workers. The instructions were recently issued to all civil surgeons by the office of the Haryana Director General of Health Services.

“The low ANC registration leads to suboptimal antenatal services to pregnant women, often resulting in anaemia, birth of low-weight babies and even abortion,” stated the communiqué.

“The ANC registration during the first trimester is essential not only for the antenatal care of women but also to curb female foeticide. A majority of abortions occur during this period, often following pre-natal sex determination tests. Therefore, early registration is crucial to monitor expectant women and, thus, improve the gender ratio,” said a senior doctor from the health department.

The doctor pointed out that late ANC registration was more prevalent in urban areas where a significant number of pregnant women opted for private hospitals instead of government healthcare centres for antenatal care.

“The state government has set the target of 100 per cent ANC registrations to address female foeticide. Therefore, pregnancy registration numbers (reproductive and child health ID) have been made mandatory for ultrasound tests, both in government and private healthcare centres,” the doctor explained.

Rohtak Civil Surgeon Dr Ramesh Chander said ANC registrations were discussed in detail every month. “Show-cause notices are also issued to health officials in areas where the registration is low,” he said.