Knowledge gap spurs unsafe abortion
Unsafe abortion is a silent killer in Malawi. If abortion was not criminalized then one Lucy Ibrahim could have been the happiest married woman.
The 49-year-old woman living in the slum location of Goliyo in the populous township of Ndirande in Blantyre opted for unsafe abortion due to prevailing restrictive law.
The mother of three, was forced to seek unsafe abortion while happily married because she got an unplanned pregnancy after she was forced to stop using family planning methods.
“My husband told me to stop using family planning methods claiming that it affects his sexual desires and performance. Out of love, I submitted to his wishes. Months later, I got pregnant. Looking at our age and neighbourhood, we agreed that I would abort using traditional medicine which was very hazardous to my health,” explained Ibrahim.
She recalled after carrying the unsafe abortion, she went through hell and could have lost her life thanks.
“When I woke up after the unsafe abortion. Two hours later, I started bleeding heavily then collapsed. My friend with whom I informed about my situation was close to me and rushed me to hospital. .After hours, I regained my consciousness and spent the last two days in excruciating pain,” recalls Ibrahim seemingly regretting the incident.
True to her assertion, women who seek unsafe abortion suffer from various complications such as continuous bleeding and are rushed to hospital for post-abortion treatment and some die before or when seeking post-abortion care.
Ibrahim is one of the cases in her area. She is one of the 10 members of Bank nkhonde grouping. Out of 10, six knew nothing about it, two claim to have heard from the grapevine while others were elusive.
With this ordeal, living in the township of Ndirande in Blantyre city doesn’t mean one is exposed to life.
This is a populous township in the southern region of Malawi well known in all circles of life. From politics, business to sports, especially football.
But going deep in this slum area where Ibrahim stays, perception and mindset is different from the expectations if what Ibrahim says I anything to go by.
In 2022, information from government health facilities indicates that 36,225 women and girls suffered from serious complications from unsafe abortion and sought post-abortion care.
Another Ndirande-based woman, Tadala Chisoka, said she only heard about safe abortion through WhatsApp group forum but has been sceptical.
“I heard when one member posted that we can access safe abortion in government hospitals. I wish this was enacted because with the current economic situation, we are going through, young girls are getting pregnant and end up in unsafe abortion.
“Apart from young girls, even older ones like me. If I get pregnant today, for sure I will go for unsafe abortion because I cannot sustain it with the way life is. Life is tough and to raise a kid is not a joke. I will abort within the area and it is a fact or I will dump the baby,” says Chisoka.
Currently, abortion in the country is illegal as the law is not enacted and the criminalisation of abortion compromises women’s rights to autonomy and bodily integrity and this infringes on their fundamental rights.
Among other reasons, women in the country go for unsafe abortion due to extra marital pregnancy, poverty, threats to life of the pregnant woman, desire of young girls to remain in school among others.
Fareeda Gakkai, another member of the grouping said it is a fact that women still go for unsafe abortion and that she has never heard about the proposed bill.
She said: “Women still abort and it is happening in this area. A week cannot pass without rumours that one was about to die because she wanted to terminate the pregnancy. I recall three weeks ago a man refused responsibility for the pregnancy. The young lady follows local means we inherited from our ancestors and it was disastrous.
“I wish women knew about the bill and where the services are offered because the majority of them in this area still use unsafe ways to abort.
When a woman decides that she does not want a pregnancy, she will do anything to terminate it. The criminal law against abortion does not work. It does not prevent abortion. Instead it kills women and places their health in danger by driving them to quacks or untrained persons.”
Ward councillor for Namalimwe ward Gertrude Chirambo in an interview could not deny or accept about the harsh reality on the ground. However she was quick to say that criminalisation of abortion has consequences to women in their society
“I cannot deny nor accept that unsafe abortion is practiced in my area. This restrictive law is not achieving its goal of protecting women lives as they said it is happening on the ground. Let’s find the root cause and uproot it,” she said.
Lawyer Mateyu Msiska said it is a sad situation for Malawi women and called for the interpretation of the law to save the lives of women in society.
“As far as I am concerned, the law says abortion can be done when the life of a woman is in danger. There is a need to interpret what life is in danger.
“Even hospital personnel sometimes turn down to offer services to these women when they seek safer abortions in hospitals,” he said.
Despite many women knowing that unsafe abortion kills and it is against some religious teachings, women still go for unsafe abortion rather than keeping unwanted pregnancies.
Neither religious teachings nor restrictive abortion laws have persuaded women not to resort to terminating unwanted pregnancies.
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