Unsafe abortion, persistent stigma, and gaps in reproductive health awareness continue to endanger women’s lives in Nepal despite legal progress, underscoring that safe abortion and informed choice are essential components of safe motherhood and women’s rights.

By Dr Alisha Manandhar
April 27, 2026

For years, I carried a quiet confidence that women were well-informed about their choices—contraceptives, family planning, and safe abortion services. That confidence crumbled in Pokhara, where my residency in a family planning Centre unveiled the silence, misconceptions, and barriers still surrounding women’s health.

One day, I met a 16-years-old unmarried girl in my OPD who was 24 weeks pregnant. What startled me most was that this was her first contact with a health facility during her pregnancy—and she had not even known she was pregnant until her test at the center. Had she sought care earlier, she could have safely chosen abortion, considering her young age, health, and aspirations. Her life and dreams still lay ahead, but by the time she reached me, it was already too late. At 24 weeks, long beyond the point when safe abortion was legally possible i.e. up to 12 weeks, counseling was the only support I could provide. As I informed her of the pregnancy, I saw her face clouded with anxiety, bewilderment, and confusion—caught in a reality she was not ready to accept.

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