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Manama: Health authorities have ordered medical staff not to reveal the gender of foetuses to pregnant mothers, sources told Gulf News on Sunday.
They made the decision after doctors discovered that information they supplied about the gender led several pregnant women of Arab origin to abort their female foetuses.
"These pregnant women became anxious after doctors treating them told them that they had female foetuses. They were very concerned about the reactions of their husbands who wanted to have sons," the sources said.
"Revealing the gender of the foetus is strictly prohibited," a sign posted at a health centre in East Riffa, south of Manama the capital, read, without giving an explanation.
Dr Abdul Hussain Al Ajmi, head of the medical services for healthcare, said his directorate did not issue any note to doctors about not to reveal the gender of the foetus.
"The decision could have come from another directorate, but definitely, it was not from ours," he said.
Dr Al Ajmi said he did not receive any complaint from fellow doctors about the selective abortions.
Preference for sons
Abortions are not allowed in Bahrain and the few exceptions are performed under strict religious regulations when the foetus has been found to be deformed, or with a congenital defect detected through ultrasound, amniocentesis, or other tests.
Abortions can also be performed if the pregnancy poses a threat to the life of the mother, and early deliveries are done if the woman has life-threatening conditions.
Several Arab countries prefer the birth of sons to daughters for economic and cultural reasons.
Sons are viewed as more able to provide for their families, particularly in rural areas where men do most of the manual work to support the relatives and elderly parents. Boys also enjoy a special status to carry the family line and to protect its honour.
Abortions are not allowed in Bahrain and the few exceptions are performed under strict religious regulations.
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