Letwin Mubonesi
Many women and girls are dying because of unsafe abortions and the time to discuss these unsafe abortions has never been more urgent in Zimbabwe, where nearly all abortions are concealed and approximately 40 percent of these abortions result in complications such as severe bleeding, infection and even death of the women.
Though the exact figures of women and girls who have died from unsafe abortions is not known due to their very nature, a study showed that abortions are the fifth leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Zimbabwe.
The current “Termination of Pregnancy Act” is extremely restrictive, only allowing abortion in the following situations: for rape and incest survivors, if the condition of the woman is at risk, or if the foetus is malformed in such a way that it will not survive after birth. Implementation of this law also presents challenges, which include the need for doctor’s appointments and delayed court processes is making the situation more than worse. E
ven under these conditions women and girls who fall under these categories are not receiving this right as administration by either police or the hospitals are delayed and only authorised when the pregnancy has reached stages where the pregnancy can no longer be terminated.
These stringent conditions have caused deaths from unsafe abortion as women at times choose not to follow the lengthy and painful legal route. There is lack of urgency around the processes of getting authorisation for an abortion and time is an essential aspect during pregnancy.
It is evident following this that, these laws kill women and are inefficient. In countries such as South Africa, abortion is legal and those deserving and requiring enjoy this right.
In Zimbabwe, the poor suffer the most. In fact, the world over, restrictive laws make access to safe abortions a class issue. Mostly teenage girls and poor women resort to unsafe backyard abortions because they cannot go to private hospitals, where they can acquire safe termination of the pregnancy. Majority of these girls are impregnated through rape, the people they do not desire to co parent with such as in incest abusive relationships.
Some of the harmful abortion methods that teenagers use include using hooked wires or wire hangers to break the uterus lining, drinking washing powder, taking an overdose of pills and shoving fresh chillies up their private parts.
All these forms have been reported to bring about fatal outcomes harmful both to the fetus and the pregnant woman. The results of these harmful practices and vulnerabilities include barrenness in events where the procedure removes the pregnancy and leaves the woman alive.
The law needs to be strengthened and implemented so that women may enjoy their legal rights, to put an end to risky backyard abortions, and the Hospital charges to abort the pregnancy should be reviewed so that even poor citizens can be accommodated.
Despite having post mis-carriage care programmes in public hospitals where women including those who have unsafe abortions can get treatment for complications, the existing policies should be strengthened and implemented to serve the lives of girls and women.
IT is show that the cost of treating someone who has had an unsafe abortion is much more than the cost or providing a safe abortion.
The International Safe Abortion Day which was commemorated on September 28, was a time to consider reviewing the current Termination of Pregnancy Act. Safe abortions mean preserving women’s and girls lives and can assist the health services to serve in expenditure since preventing unsafe abortions is better than curing an endangered woman or girl.
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