Brutal abortions

Abortion is the termination of pregnancy at pre-term. It occurs either spontaneously or is induced. Brutal abortions are always induced. Per the WHO, Unsafe abortion rates are the number of unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years in a year. This measure describes the level of unsafe abortions in a population. Forced Abortion is an inhumane act which not only kills an unborn child but also a blooming mother against her wish.

Per the statistics given by WHO, Each year, throughout the world, approximately 210 million women become pregnant and over 135 million of them deliver live born infants. The remaining 75 million pregnancies end in stillbirth, or spontaneous or induced abortion. It was estimated that in 2003 approximately 42 million pregnancies were voluntarily terminated: 22 million safely and 20 million unsafely. Unsafe abortions are frequently performed by providers lacking qualifications/Quacks. Hence, they compromise with the health of the woman and jeopardize it. Even in voluntarily carried out abortions, there are majority of cases in which abortions are done against the wish of the mother. She cries and yells at the decision and pleads for her fetus’s life but…. Family pressure for the desire of a boy child and then knowing the gender prior to term through certain medical procedures (though they are illegal) or because of financial issues, woman forcibly abort their child. What is the fault of the child in this? But at the stake of family’s honor, a child loses her life.

Unsafe Abortions may be hazardous to the health of the would-be mother and can have serious consequences. We, as human beings have been bestowed with an ability to give birth to a child and we ought to respect this blessing.

Female and male children are equal in every possible term. It is considered that the male child will carry the name of the family ahead but as it is visible these days, hardly any man prefers to stay with his parents - what is the point then? Women may not be able to carry the “name” but can definitely bring in the fame. A woman’s tender care for her ailing parents is evident even after her marriage.

Deeds make us bigger not name and gender.

 

Written by Dr. Aakshi Kalra

The Damaged Womb

There is no gain saying that the health delivery system, especially in developing countries such as Nigeria, has ceased to be threatened by the activities of pseudo medical practitioners who often claim to have exhaustive knowledge of all dimensions of medical practice. The result of the activities of these charlatans, otherwise known as quacks, has
over the years been visibly detrimental to the nation's health status and this phenomenon has lately assumed an alarming and uncompromising proportion and so calls for a proactive and urgent attention, if the image of this nation must be redeemed and made to have a recognition in this regard in the world community.

Regrettably, the activities of such people apparently find expression among other things, in the administration of fake and expired drugs believed to aid the termination of pregnancy, insertion of unsterilized instrument such as foetus evacuation tubes and cutters, and the use of some locally made concoctions also believed to be efficient in the termination of pregnancy. A number of reasons have been advanced for the patronage of such quack medical practitioners. Such reasons range from the low cost of it to ignorance. However plausible these reasons might seem, the incontestable truth remains that the adverse effect of such act far out-weighs its purported good side, as it often results in either deformation of the unborn baby(that is if it is not successful) or termination of life. Such was the case of a pretty and promising young girl of 16 years of age(Named Onyero) in early 1993 in Alisimie community, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State who had a recourse to such act.


According to her, the so called medical practitioner she went to see with her problem of unwanted pregnancy was a well known patient medicine dealer within the locality. The man(Mr. Abaye), middle aged, claimed to have got expert knowledge of the business. He had attended to countless number of persons before she became a victim. She was attended to and shortly after that, there arose some complications within her uterus. She began to bleed ceasely. This made her to go back to the man(Mr. Abaye) for remedy and she was given some medications which heightened the situation. She was left with no option other than to seek medical attention in the Central Hospital, Agbor where she was told that her womb had been damaged and all that was needed to be done to save her life was to cut off her womb. Till date, she remains without a womb and this has cost her two marriages as she could not bear a for her husbands. Today, she lives in regret, in pain and dejection as she has become a laughing stock within her community

Playing with Fire

Hi Mommy,

I'm your baby. You don't know me yet, I'm only a few weeks old. You're going to find out about me soon, though, I promise. Let me tell you some things about me. I've got beautiful brown eyes and black hair. Well, I don't have it yet, but I will when I'm born. I'm going to grow up without a daddy mostly, but we have each other. We'll help each other, and love each other. I want to be a doctor when I grow up.

You found out about me today, Mommy! You were so excited, you couldn't wait to tell everyone. All you could do all day was smile, and life was perfect. You have a beautiful smile, Mommy. It will be the first face I will see in my life, and it will be the best thing I see in my life. I know it already. ... Today was the day you told Daddy. You were so excited to tell him about me! ...He wasn't happy, Mommy. He kind of got angry. I don't think that you noticed, but he did. He started to talk about something called wedlock, and money, and bills, and stuff I don't think I understand yet. You were still happy, though, so it was okay. Then he did something scary, Mommy. He hit you. I could feel you fall backward, and your hands flying up to protect me. I was okay... but I was very sad for you. You were crying then, Mommy. That's a sound I don't like. It doesn't make me feel good. It made me cry, too. He said sorry after, and he hugged you again. You forgave him, Mommy, but I'm not sure if I do. It wasn't right. You say he loves you... why would he hurt you? I don't like it, Mommy.

Finally, you can see me! Your stomach is a little bit bigger, and you're so proud of me! You went out with your mommy to buy new clothes, and you were so so so happy. You sing to me, too. You have the most beautiful voice in the whole wide world. When you sing is when I'm happiest. And you talk to me, and I feel safe. So safe. You just wait and see, Mommy. When I am born I will be perfect just for you. I will make you proud, and I will love you with all of my heart.

I can move my hands and feet now, Mommy. I do it because you put your hands on your belly to feel me, and I giggle. You giggle, too. I love you, Mommy.

Daddy came to see you today, Mommy. I got really scared. He was acting funny and he wasn't talking right. He said he didn't want you. I don't know why, but that's what he said. And he hit you again. I got angry, Mommy. When I grow up I promise I won't let you get hurt! I promise to protect you. Daddy is bad. I don't care if you think that he is a good person, I think he's bad. But he hit you, and he said he didn't want us. He doesn't like me. Why doesn't he like me, Mommy?

You didn't talk to me tonight, Mommy. Is everything okay?

It's been three days since you saw Daddy. You haven't talked to me or touched me or anything since that. Don't you still love me, Mommy? I still love you. I think you feel sad. The only time I feel you is when you sleep. You sleep funny, kind of curled up on your side. And you hug me with your arms, and I feel safe and warm again. Why don't you do that when you're awake, any more?

I'm 21 weeks old today, Mommy. Aren't you proud of me? We're going somewhere today, and it's somewhere new. I'm excited. It looks like a hospital, too. I want to be a doctor when I grow up, Mommy. Did I tell you that? I hope you're as excited as I am. I can't wait.

Mommy, I'm getting scared. Your heart is still beating, but I don't know what you are thinking. The doctor is talking to you. I think something's going to happen soon. I'm really, really, really scared, Mommy. Please tell me you love me. Then I will feel safe again. I love you!

Mommy, what are they doing to me!? It hurts! Please make them stop! It feels bad! Please, Mommy, please please help me! Make them stop!

Don't worry Mommy, I'm safe. I'm in heaven with the angels now. They told me what you did, and they said it's called an abortion.

Why, Mommy? Why did you do it? Don't you love me any more? Why did you get rid of me? I'm really, really, really sorry if I did something wrong, Mommy. I love you, Mommy! I love you with all of my heart. Why don't you love me? What did I do to deserve what they did to me? I want to live, Mommy! Please! It really, really hurts to see you not care about me, and not talk to me. Didn't I love you enough? Please say you'll keep me, Mommy! I want to live smile and watch the clouds and see your face and grow up and be a doctor. I don't want to be here, I want you to love me again! I'm really really really sorry if I did something wrong. I love you!

I love you, Mommy.

Mommy, I am sorry, but something went wrong and you are here with me. What happened, mommy? I see you wonder at the amazing sight of these angels around us, I see you look at them in awe. You, like me, have been sent back, to heaven. They told me that because there wasn’t anything right about the method you used, you wound up dying.

~A modified version of an original story by Robert Stamm~

Although the substance of this article is neitherto deal with the propriety of abortion, nor as to whether it has any sanction in religion or morality, the aforesaid story is a necessary introduction to the reality that surrounds us. The fact that abortion is outlawed on certain grounds while permitted on certain others warrants that there must be some modality of regulation on the manner and the basis on which it is carried out. Owing to the fact that certain grounds do not fulfil the criteria of becoming the basis on which an abortion may be carried out. There are plenty of instances wherein women seek recourse to unsafe and illegal methods of abortion. The end result is hardly anything to appreciate.

In the words of a renowned member of the medical profession based out of Nigeria who wishes to remain anonymous, an abortion in medical speak is called a termination or “planned miscarriage”. “Abortion is understood to be the Healthcare Professional used to describe the premature conclusion of a pregnancy whether planned or of natural causes… before it can be called a miscarriage.” He says. An unsafe abortion, as the very same doctor puts it, refers to “An abortion done by unskilled persons including the lady herself, or done by Professionals with insufficient experience or skill, or done by persons with skill but poor after care, or done to people who have additional risks like very late twins or may be susceptible due to other medical conditions in which infection or blood loss would be poorly tolerated.” In the doctor’s opinion, usually young girls with little access to money or other means coupled with the ignorance of the avoidable dangers of the procedure fall victim to the unsafe abortions in order to cut costs. 

The consequences are plenty:

•  Death
• Infection
• Anaemia from blood loss
• Damage to Bowel Bladder  and reproductive organs           
• Difficulty in getting pregnant or carrying pregnancy neck of womb called cervix may be damaged           
• Chronic pain from botched procedures including incomplete termination in which half of the fetus is left behind 
• Psychological issues of regret, guilt and depression

In Nigeria, abortion, as the law stands, is permissible on limited grounds which are enumerated as below:

Basis	Status under Law
To save the life of the woman	Allowed
To preserve mental health	Allowed
In cases of conception being a consequence of rape	No
In cases of foetal ill-health, impairment or disability	No
Economic and Social considerations	No
On request by the woman herself	No
Familial pressure	No

Evaluating the statistical side, there is plenty of evidence that suggest that women rely on unsafe methods of abortion in a bid to side-step the law, and to avail a series of back-alley mechanisms to bring their pregnancies to an abrupt halt. From the statistical resource pool collected by  AllAfrica.com, “From statistics, an estimated 46 million pregnancies worldwide end in induced abortions each year and 20 million of these are unsafe. About 13 per cent of pregnancy related deaths have been attributed to unsafe abortions and 80,000 deaths annually.”

The legal system governing abortion in Nigeria predominantly comprises two different laws. In the generally Muslim states in the North, the Penal Code, Law No. 18 of 1959 is in force. In the south, which is largely Christian, the Criminal Code of 1916 is in effect. Although both codes prohibit abortion, the differences in the wording of the Codes, as well as in their  interpretation, that have resulted in two slightly different treatments of the offence of abortion.

In general under the Penal Code, an abortion may be legally performed only to save the life of the pregnant woman. Save for this one explicit permission, any person who voluntarily causes a woman with a child to miscarry, can be subjected to a penalty that could range up to fourteen years’ imprisonment with, or without the payment of a fine. This punishment holds good even for a woman who causes her own miscarriage, although harsher penalties are awarded if the woman dies owing to the miscarriage. Under the Criminal Code, abortions are legally permitted only in the event that the life of a woman is to be saved. At the same time, any person who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of a woman, unlawfully administers to her any noxious thing or uses any other means is subject to fourteen years’ imprisonment.  A woman who undertakes the same act with respect to herself or consents to it is subject to seven years’ imprisonment. Any person who supplies anything knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure a miscarriage is subject to three years’ imprisonment.

One slight deviation in the context of the Criminal Code is that by interpretation, abortions have been allowed in the wake of broader circumstances. The English decision in Rex v. Bourneushered in an era where the element of necessity was read into situations to determine whether it was ripe for a legal authorization of abortion or otherwise. Besides these developments, in 1982, there was an attempt made to liberalize abortion law, but the same was nipped in the bud before it attained fruition.

In Nigeria, induced abortion using unsafe methods is considered to be a rather major cause of maternal mortality, which is considerably high in Nigeria. Delta Women conducted a survey amongst women in Nigeria, and the resultant data suggested a considerably shocking trend. 

Out of a survey pool of 20 sample respondents between the ages 25 and 50, 22% had undergone an abortion. Of these respondents, one of them stated, “Yes, I had an abortion. It was done in a clinic by a Certified Doctor, I will say. I had to do it because my parents wouldn't hear that I am pregnant outside wedlock.”As for considering abortion as an option, 22% of the women answered that they would, while another 22% were unsure, and the remainder were vociferously expressive of their antagonism to choosing abortions. 

About 80% of our respondents expressed that they were aware of the consequences of an unsafe abortion on their bodies, and also 90% of the respondents are aware of the legal standpoints on abortion in Nigeria. While as many as 80% of the respondents did not know of others who had undergone unsafe abortions, one of the remaining 20% explained, “A school mate of mine underwent an unsafe abortion, and she died. However, when one other friend of mine did the same, she didn’t face any such bad luck.”

20% of the respondents did not know what unsafe abortions were, while the predominant answers in the survey so far as their knowledge was concerned, most perceived unsafe abortions to be:

• a significant cause of maternal mortality
• the termination of an unwanted pregnancy by persons lacking the necessary skills, or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards, or both
• the absence of proper and clean/safe facilities and equipment
• an abortion at a late stage of pregnancy
• an abortion in a non sterile environment, with unsterilized tools and performed by unqualified personnel
• an abortion by self-medication

A Nigerian doctor (who wishes to remain anonymous) feels that rates of unsafe abortions can be reduced by making contraception easily accessible, along with offering awareness as to its usage. “Unfortunately some ladies use termination as “contraceptive” with disastrous consequences. The government should see a termination as a woman right, the deep religious, cultural and social stigmatisation of a terminationwill need to be addressed. 

Opposing it forces it underground. It doesn’t stop it and “No sex” is practically impossible to advocate. Safe protected sex and condoms help with STDs, and will also cut down the need for termination but combined with the pill even more effective as it is unlikely that both methods would fail simultaneously         .” He further adds that there should be laws to protect qualified practitioners of safe abortions, should contraception fail. The procedure should be subsidised in order to make them affordable. “Unfortunately it has been a non-issue and unless there are statistics to make the people and government agencies aware that it is a major source of loss of women’s life and future fertility, unsafe abortions will continue as there is a market for it.”

There is evidently a cause for practical implementation of the legal system that exists on paper. Although in principle, abortions are banned except for certain grounds, there are plenty of clinics that thrive on the business of quick, unsafe and illegal abortions. At best, the solution does not lie in legalizing abortions, but rather, in legally regulating abortion. Simple means of doing this would be mandating the registration of medical practitioners under the law. There should be a compulsory rule that without a license, a practitioner cannot conduct any means of abortion. Furthermore, it would be wise to mandate that every case of abortion be a registered case, with the patient’s right to privacy being retained by allowing them to be unnamed.

Written by Elsie Reed, Kirthi Jayakumar and Shadrack Egbonimali