Abortion rights in Southern Africa!

Chikowore argues that many women in Africa die of backstreet abortions because they do not have access to safe, legal and affordable abortion facilities.

According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) Report (2007) on the incidence of unsafe abortion, there are 66 500 total unsafe abortion deaths across the globe. This is down from 67 900 in the year 2000. Of the total global deaths every year, 95% are in developing countries, including Africa. Deaths in Africa due to unsafe termination of pregnancies is 36 000 women, an increase from the previous estimate of 29 000 in the year 2000. The developed countries including the United Kingdom and United States of America have a total of only 100 deaths per year, which highlights the magnitude of the problem in Africa.

Research indicates that in countries that have laws and policies that are not restrictive to termination, there are fewer deaths due to unsafe termination. This is the case in developed countries where out of the 66 500 deaths, they only have 100 deaths, which in some cases are illegal immigrants who are avoiding legal facilities due to their status in those countries.

The right to choose whether and when to have a child is at the core of reproductive rights. It is a right that many women in Southern Africa are yet to experience. The chances of having an abortion that results in death are very high in Africa according to given statistics. In countries where women have no safe and legal ways to terminate an unwanted pregnancy they resort to desperate and dangerous measures.

Souther Africa

Abortion rights remain controversial in Southern Africa despite high maternal mortalities due to illegal backstreet termination of pregnancies. Most countries in the region do not have liberal abortion laws but would allow restricted termination of pregnancies on certain grounds such as preserving mental and physical health. Abortion is a common experience for women across all cultures and classes in the region, yet induced abortion is legally restricted.

South Africa is the only country in the sub- region with a liberal functional abortion law, which allows termination without restrictions. Zambia allows termination of pregnancies on socio-economic reasons as well as preserving mental and physical health of the woman. Despite this law in Zambia, many continue to die and get injured in that country due to illegal terminations. Like in South Africa, there are challenges in terms of information dissemination and access to facilities, especially amongst the disadvantaged communities. Some continue to seek illegal and unsafe termination because they are not aware that they have a right to get the service. Because of restrictive abortion policies in Southern Africa, many privileged women in the sub-region are coming to South Africa to seek the service. Those that cannot afford the trip end up seeking termination from illegal providers.

Deaths Reduced

South Africa has successfully limited the number of women dying due to illegal abortion since the inception of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act of 1996. Before 1996, it was reported that 450 women died annually and thousands more had permanent injuries. According to research, the CTOP Act has reduced maternal deaths due to unsafe termination of pregnancies by more than 91 percent. Although there are still some women seeking termination from illegal facilities and providers, the number has reduced dramatically compared with the period before the law.

Challenges

A challenging factor that has restricted access to safe abortion in South Africa is the inadequate human and material resources. Because health- care providers are not forced to do termination of pregnancies, there are few providers of the service especially in the second trimester that is restricted to doctors only. For one to provide the service in South Africa, they have to be trained over a certain period of time. Registered Nurses in South Africa are allowed to provide first trimester termination only but they also have to be trained to provide the service.

Due to conscientious objection, upheld by the South African Constitution, trained and untrained nurses and doctors have a right to object to providing TOP. There is a need for a lot of awareness programmes to empower women and avoid unnecessary deaths and injuries due to abortion. The new Amendments in 2008 to the CTOP Act potentially make services more accessible to women, especially black women from disadvantaged communities.

The issue of abortion rights has proved to be a divisive one. Pro-choice groups advocate for women to be given the space to make their own decisions about whether to keep or terminate a pregnancy. The anti-choice groups are always against the idea of letting women decide for themselves. While people argue from various perspectives such as religion and culture, it is critical to note that when a woman has made a decision to terminate a pregnancy, there is very little that can be done to persuade her to stop. Countries with restrictive abortion laws are experiencing high deaths due to unsafe abortion. The bottom line remains: women are dying from backstreet abortions and something must be done!