40 percent lose lives due to abortion

By Kundai Marunya

Forty percent of women who participate in illegal abortions end up losing their lives, the Girl Guide Association of Zimbabwe has revealed.
These are usually linked to teenage and unwanted pregnancies.
Abortion is only legally accepted if the pregnancy is as a result of rape or incest, or if the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother.
A research by Nhau indicates that most abortions are conducted in backyards where dangerous pills, concoctions and tools such as needles and knives are used.
This is largely because abortion remains illegal in Zimbabwe.
Some doctors working under both Government and private hospitals are reportedly facilitating illegal termination of unwanted pregnancies taking advantage of having access to drugs not sold over the counter.
At times, some even take a dangerous route whereby the fetus is removed using equipment such as wire hangers.
Girl Child Network National Coordinator Shingayi Nyirenda said the ever-rising statistics of abortions are a sign of poverty around the country.
“The issue of illegal abortions in Zimbabwe is limited to pregnancies certified by medical practitioners to be a threat to the mental and or physical health of the mother.
“It is against the background of this knowledge that the phenomenal increase in statistics highlight an upsurge in the issue of illegal abortions in Zimbabwe, a choice we believe many opt for due to poverty which makes them think they are not capable of child upbringing,” she said.
Most girls expose themselves to potential ‘clients’ in exchange for things such as a meal or basic needs. Nyirenda said there is need to address the issue of social and economic injustices leading to unplanned pregnancies and illegal abortions.
However, she feels culture has also become a huge driving factor under which most youths shun acquiring contraceptives for fear of stigmatisation and labelling within communities.
Although contraception can be sold to girls, 16 years of age and over, reality is girls as young as 12 are already sexually active with some even falling pregnant and later opting for unsafe abortion.
“There’s a gap in access to sexual reproduction information and services and what is taking place on the ground amongst the young girls,” said Nyirenda.
“The age of consent is 16, and the legal age for marriage is 18, however, the prevalence rate of unwanted pregnancies indicate that young girls are indulging in sex before they attain the legal age of marriage.
“The issue of the use of contraception is, therefore, a controversial topic, promoting the use of contraception by young girls is in a way encouraging the abuse inflicted on these young lives but on the other hand if we do not advise on contraception, we do more harm on the girls.”
Nyirenda called for efforts in prevention and safeguarding girls from engaging in activities that put them at risk of getting pregnant and consequently seeking abortions.
Girl Guide Association of Zimbabwe chief commissioner Florence Madhuku said there is a need to instill moral values in the youth who are the most affected age group.
In the process of abortion, Madhuku said more than 40 percent lives are lost hence there is need for more stringent measures to be taken.
“Sadly, some girls are taken advantage of and because they are still young they feel they cannot take up the responsibility and hence they opt for abortion,” said Madhuku.
“With the levels of poverty around the country some girls engage into sex work and thereby fall pregnant as most times they fail to access contraceptives. In essence, the statistics show that very few girls use contraceptives.
“Rather, the distribution is not even. This is evidenced by the fact that most of the illegal abortions are done in rural areas. However, in as much as we want to protect the girls, we also have to jealously guard our culture hence there is a need to balance the two.”
Madhuku said the internet has also come with its shortcomings as youths, after watching videos end up experimenting and in the process, pregnancies occur.
She added that there is a need for Government to introduce regulations in the manner in which the internet is used. Nhau/Indaba