Early pregnancy registration a must now in Haryana

Gurgaon: After recording a decline in sex ratio at birth (SRB), the state health department has directed all districts to ensure that expecting mothers get registered with the govt within the first trimester of pregnancy.

The officials responsible for registrations will be issued show-cause notices if registration rates are lower in their areas, the department warned in a notice issued earlier this month.

Typically, such an exercise is carried out by grassroots healthcare workers in rural areas to give women who don't have access to medical services benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. But the Haryana govt is trying to scale up this exercise across the state to improve its sex-ratio at birth.

Data by the govt showed that Haryana's SRB fell from 916 in 2023 to 910 in 2024.

Health department officials said that the directive was issued because many pregnant women register with the govt in later stages of their pregnancy. This leads to a delay in providing medical treatment to ensure that the foetus does not suffer from conditions such as anaemia and low birth weight.

Further, early registration is considered to be a crucial strategy in curbing pre-natal sex determination and female foeticide.

"It has come to notice that ANC (antenatal care) registration, which should be 100per cent in the first trimester, varies from 50-80per cent in the districts… You are directed to ensure 100per cent registration in the first trimester," read the order by Manish Bansal, director of general health services, Haryana.

The order added: "Health staff with low registration of ANC in fine trimester (medical officer, MPHW, ASHA workers) may be issued show-cause notice for non-performance… Any ultrasound centre conducting examination without antenatal registration shall be issued notice for non-compliance of the instructions."

A senior doctor of the health department said early registrations were key to ensuring that infants are born healthy and curbing female foeticide.

"A majority of abortions occur during this period, often following pre-natal sex determination tests. Early registration is crucial to monitor expectant women and improve the gender ratio," the doctor said.

Gurgaon's chief medical officer (CMO) Virender Yadav said, "We have already informed all hospitals and doctors regarding this. We have called a meeting on Jan 29 with IMA, radiology association and gynaecologists to ensure 100per cent registrations of all pregnancies."

In Haryana, sex-ratio at birth started recording a downward trend after 2019, when SRB touched 923. The state saw a six-point decline in 2024, the second lowest since 2021, when SRB fell to 914.

Doctors told TOI that the state must "go beyond monitoring and registrations if it wants to address the problem of declining sex ratio".

"It is essential to change societal attitudes and mindset. Every child, regardless of gender, has the right to be born and thrive. Promoting gender equality and valuing girls is fundamental to creating a balanced and progressive society," said a gynaecologist of a private hospital in Gurgaon.