Among several cultures, including the Middle East, pregnant women have been known to abort female babies over the possible negative reaction of their husband once he finds out the child is a girl.
To reinforce the prohibition, a health center in East Riffa prominently displays a large sign that says, "Revealing the gender of the fetus is strictly prohibited."
Dr. Abdul Hussain Al Ajmi, head of Bahrain's Medical Services, said he did not issue the directive, but added local physicians are not complaining about it.
Aside from gender preference, another strong reason behind the rise in abortion cases in Bahrain is the fear of reprisal among single women who become pregnant, especially among foreign migrant workers.
