Epress.am News from Armenia
Research into the disturbing high rates of sex-selective abortion in Armenia have shown that there are three main reasons parents in Armenia abort female fetuses: first, families' and society's preference for male children; second, the tendency to have fewer children; and third, the ultrasound, which allows parents to know the sex of their child and opt for abortion. This was said by head of the Department of Maternity and Reproductive Health at the RA Ministry of Healthcare Gayane Avagyan at a press conference today, on April 7, when Armenia celebrates Motherhood and Beauty Day.
"We can't blame anyone for wanting to have male children, that's normal, but it shouldn't be done by getting read of healthy girls. If [parents] want to have a male child, after 3–4 births, definitely a boy will be born because after the third child, the odds certainly double, and during the fourth [child], it's practically 90% possible to have children of a different sex," she said.
The ministry employee stressed that the number of male children born in Armenia exceeds the norm. "The nom is 105–106 boys for every 100 girls. There is a definite increase, and this increase is observed especially during the third and subsequent births. The good news is that at least the second child is not aborted based on sex. We have to understand all this and in order to resolve the problem, give impetus to developing the birth rate," she said.
Avagyan expressed concern that if this trend continues, 20–30 years later, there will be a shortage of girls in Armenia and problems in demographic terms — fewer marriages and fewer women giving birth.
"We encourage expectant mothers not to abort the fetus only because of the sex. It may well be that a girl will be much more secure than a boy. Today we are witnessing this, when there is a change of roles in society — our women likewise become good workers, good wage-earners."
Avagyan said there are ways to prevent sex-selective abortions, but they are prohibited by law, so they will continue to find ways to solve the problem.
"One of the ways is not to state the sex of the child until 22 weeks [into the pregnancy], but I don't think we will achieve success this way. We have to change our attitude when it comes to children and place importance on the birth of female children. And the state of course should encourage the birth of the third and fourth child. This problems remains on the agenda, and we will try to find the best options to resolving the problem," she concluded.