In the past 10 years an average of 7,500 women have given birth in Bulgaria every year without having their pregnancy monitored by a doctor. The number remains unchanged, but in view of the falling birth rate, it accounts for an increasing share of all births in the country. Out of the children born this way one-third are born with different medical conditions because of complications due to untreated infections of the mother during pregnancy, a study, presented by sociologist Venelin Stoychev from the St. Kliment Ohridski University in Sofia for the BNR shows.

On his part social worker Alexander Milanov stated that that these births are not necessarily among Roma women – 40% of the women who give birth without their pregnancies being monitored identify as Bulgarian.