Physical abuse accounts for a majority of the pregnancy complications. Unbelievable? Believe It! 15 to 25% of all pregnant women are being subjected to physical abuse, according to studies conducted worldwide. This abuse is prevalent among pregnant women irrespective of age, educational status, socioeconomic or cultural background. Most of these cases go unnoticed due to the practice of accompanying a pregnant woman during her visit to the antenatal clinic, the lack of proper knowledge about available help or feeling of shame or fright. The consequences of such an abuse is much greater than what is seen. Premature deliveries, low birth weight babies, stillbirths, miscarriages and fetal fractures are some of the commonly observed manifestations of physical abuse.  

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While it is important to preserve and nurture a pregnancy, it is equally important to preserve a delivered child. The practice of female infanticide, or the intentional killing of baby girls on account of preference of baby boys has been prevalent for many ages across different regions of the world. For example, the prevalence of a poor male to female ratio in Delphi (less than 1% of the 6000 families had two daughters) can be attributed to the widespread murder of baby girls in ancient Greece as early as 200 B.C. A visit to the Usilampatti village in Tamil Nadu, India would reveal pathetic instances of tiny tots being laid on to deathbeds using unhulled rice (punctures the windpipe of the infant) or poisonous substances (fertilizer powder, Erukkam/ Yercum milk (Calotropis gigantea). Other commonly adopted methods include smothering or strangling with a wet towel or starving to death. Not only such unethical acts reflect the low status conferred to the women folk but also warrant a need for a critical evaluation and intervention.   

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It has been established from numerous studies that 50% of all infertility cases is due to a male factor defect. Nothing much has changed however, in a country like India, where infertility is still regarded a women’s issue. The social consequences of infertility are severe, especially for the affected woman. Time and over again, shocking reports of women being thrown out of their homes, remarriage of husband or suicide attempts continue to haunt many childless couples. The social stigma in addition to the emotional trauma forces the couples to grab any straw, irrespective of the cost concerns. Silent prayers of numerous infertile couples have now been reciprocated through Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART) that has brought to the world over 60,00,000 babies and continues to promise a new ray of hope to pregnancy and parenthood.   

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Change in beliefs regarding sex and the consequent increased sexual activity among teenagers accompanied by a parallel shift in the gender and economic roles of women has resulted in increased teenage pregnancy rates. Teen mothers are often regarded as uneducated, poor, irresponsible, morally wrong and incapable of handling pregnancy and parenthood. It is true that teen mothers often find it difficult to strike a balance between familial separation and child rearing. Given some time, most of them fit perfectly into their motherly role. However reports of stress and depression among such socially neglected mothers necessitate intervention that should be focused on enhancing the number and quality of social support services.   

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