Although medically approved services are at hand as a backup to contraceptive failure, clandestine abortions are widely practised In the country, a seminar was told yesterday, reports BSS.

"Women are less Informed of the risks of Indigenously induced abortions and of safer services given In the country through trained providers." a study presented at the seminar said.

The dissemination seminar of the research. "A study to Assess the Determinants and Consequences of Abortion in Bangladesh" was held In the Sasakawa Auditorium of 1CDDR.B here.

Prof M Arnanullah. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, attended the seminar as the chief guest. Dr Halida Hanum Akhter. director. Bangladesh Institute of Research for Promotion of Essential and Reproductive Health and Technologies (BIRPERHT). presented the findings of the

BIRPERHT conducted the study to Identify behavioural, social and economic determinants of unsafe abortion and attendant maternal health hazards.

, Quoting a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, the seminar was told that about 99 per cent of Die 500,000 maternal deaths occurring worldwide annually takes place In developing countries due to complications of abortions induced by unqualified persons.

■'Complications of.Induced abortion is also one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh.' the seminar observed.

The BIRPERHT study shows a tendency that women who undergo abortions do not use contraceptives for protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancy.

Women living in rural areas and featuring low on education and socio-economic ladder are the worst sufferers of Induced abortion, the report said.

BIRPERHT. DAC and TREE (Theatre for Research Education and Empowerment) have taken a folk theatrical communication approach to disseminate health awareness messages.