KEM, BYL Nair Hospitals give out count of intersex kids born

In the last seven years, 56 children were born as intersex/third sex in KEM and BYL Nair — two of the BMC-run hospitals. These two hospitals have a record of 28 intersex children being born in each of them during the 7-year period.

The count has been received through a Right to Information (RTI) application reply filed by advocate Tushar Bhosale. The application was filed in three civic hospitals — KEM, BYL Nair, and Sion. While Sion hospital does not have statistical data, it replied that approximately three to four children per year are diagnosed as intersex at the hospital.

None of these babies were abandoned by their parents at birth in the hospitals.

While KEM hospital saw the highest number of intersex babies in 2014 with eight births, in Nair hospital the highest number of intersex children (six) were born in 2017.

The replies to the application also state that the major causes of the birth of an intersex child include developmental gonadal dysgenesis, imbalance of sex hormones, intake of certain drugs by mother and genetic disorder.

"It is disheartening to see that such babies are abandoned after a certain age, mainly during their teenage. There is treatment available in public hospitals which can be used, rather than abandoning such children. Facilities for correction of genitals are accessible and the public must be made aware of it," Bhosale said.

The treating method available for such children includes paediatric endocrine service, paediatric surgery and genitourinary reconstruction, counselling of parents to name a few.

Priya Patil, a transgender who was abandoned by her parents when she was 16 years of age, said: "Most of us are abandoned during teenage years when hormonal changes can be seen in a child. In majority of the cases, a child is abandoned because of the society's view towards us. We have to suffer a lot to stay in this society. It is better to live with the community together."

HOSPITAL RECORD

• These two hospitals have a record of 28 intersex children being born in each of them during the past 7 years. 
   
• None of these babies were abandoned by their parents