Today, at “Henaran” Press Club, UNFPA Armenia held a press conference where Prof. Razmik Abrahamyan, Director of Institute of Reproductive Health, Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Mr. Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Armenia Assistant Representative presented the “Prevalence and Reasons of Sex Selective Abortions in Armenia” Report. As the speakers noted, the report contained both positive and alarming findings. In particular, the majority of the surveyed women have started having children in a favorable reproductive age: from 19 to 35 years old, which is very important in terms of safe motherhood. Another extremely positive finding is that the Armenian society provides the same care to already born children irrespective of their sex. However, as to the future children, the society prefers boys much more than girls – around six times. The study suggests that 0.8 per cent of 900,000 Armenian women of reproductive age has had a sex selective abortion in the last five years. This means that each year Armenia potentially loses around 1400 future mothers. According to the speakers, the report is based on the findings of a quantitative survey of 2830 households in the period of July 15-August 15, 2011, as well as qualitative study of the issue. It was prepared within the framework of “Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health Services” project implemented through cooperation of RA Ministry of Health, Institute of Reproductive Health, Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and UNFPA Armenia Country Office, with the support of the National Statistical Service of Armenia. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. For additional informationplease contact: Mr. Mher Manukyan, Communication Assistant, UNFPA Armenia E-mail:[email protected] Phone:(+374 10) 54 34 17 FACTSHEET ON “PREVALENCE AND REASONS OF SEX SELECTIVE ABORTIONS IN ARMENIA” REPORT Prepared:within the framework of “Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health Services” project implemented through cooperation of RA Ministry of Health, Institute of Reproductive Health, Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and UNFPA Armenia Country Office. The sample and the final database were developed and field work was conducted by the National Statistical Service of Armenia. Purpose:reveal theprevalence of sex selective abortions in Armenia, as well as the main reasons and public perception of it. Problem: According to official statistical data, starting from 1993the sex-at-birth ratio in Armenia has been 110-120 boys to100 girls, while the accepted normal biological ratio is 102-106 boys to 100 girls.In other words, in the last decade in Armenia fewer girls and more boys have been born. In order to check one possible cause for this skewed ratio, sex selective abortions, UNFPA initiated a study. Data collection methods used · Quantitative survey of women of reproductive age (15-49)from 2830 Armenian households, who had at least one pregnancy in their lifetime. · Survey of pregnant women who applied to a healthcare facility for abortion. · Express qualitative assessment of focus groups of women and men, as well as obstetrician-gynecologists. When: The quantitative survey and survey of pregnant women was conducted in July 15-August 15, 2011.Express qualitative assessment was conducted in July 2011. Main Findings: · The study suggests that 0.8 per cent of 900,000 Armenian women (around 7200 women)of reproductive age has had a sex selective abortion in the last five years. This means that on average each yearArmenia potentially loses around 1400 future mothers. · Sex selective abortions are most vividly expressed: o in case of the 3rd and the 4th child; o among urban women; o among women with higher education; and o among women with high level of income (AMD100,000 and above). · The decision to have a sex selective abortion was made mainly (82.6%)by the pregnant women independently. · Families with son preference are six times more than families with daughter preference (10 times more in rural areas and four times more in urban areas). · Every two out of five women that have passed the quantitative survey have reported son preference during their first pregnancy,whileonly one in seven women wanted a girl. · At the same time, about half (44%)of the surveyed women had no sex preference during their first pregnancy. · In families with daughter preference the first child was mainly a girl (80.1%), while in families with son preference the first child was mainly a boy (60.8%). · In the vast majority of cases (77.8%) couples decide together on how many girls and boys they want to have. · Son preference is mainly explained by: o the necessity to continue the family tree; o boys being the inheritors of the property; as well as o Power of men in families, much more active role and higher social mobility of boys in the society. · Based on the answers of participants of the qualitative survey, one may conclude that there are no significant problems in regard with different attitudes towards girls and boys within the families, and that the problem lies with the prospects for future self-expression of women in the society and their higher vulnerability.

---