Abortions Based on Gender Preference Decrease in Armenia

In recent years, there has been a trend of decreasing gender-based abortions recorded in Armenia, according to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia.

“According to WHO, the ratio of female to male newborns should be 100 to 106. Between 2008 and 2012, Armenia recorded a ratio of 100 to 115. In 2019 and 2020, a positive trend was observed in the decrease of gender-selective abortions, with a ratio of 100 to 110, while the figure for the first six months of 2021 was 100 to 108.

The desire to have a male child, rooted in the national mindset, is primarily the cause of gender-selective abortions. This desire is linked to the need to continue the lineage, the wish to have an heir, and similar factors. Deviations in population reproduction indicators lead to serious demographic distortions, resulting in ethnic, social, and numerous other issues.

One of the crucial steps to overcoming the fundamental problem is not just the regulation and clarification of the legislative framework but also the elevation of the role and significance of daughters and women in both the family and the societal national mindset. Providing educational and informational consultations along with moral and psychological support will aid women in valuing and assessing themselves positively.

Recognizing the importance of this issue, various measures have been developed and implemented in conjunction with relevant state agencies and international organizations, aimed at changing medical practices as well as eliminating stereotypes surrounding this issue in society.