The large number of illegal and unregulated abortions in Ghana are resulting in health problems and sometimes death for the women. In tribal culture both abortion AND contraception are frowned upon. Hell of a time for sexually active youth eh? The BBC reports that 2/3 of abortion are occuring illegally and in unsafe conditions.

Gloria's second abortion was only four months ago. First her friend gave her melted sugar with Guinness. No effect. Then 10 paracetemol tablets ground up with local gin. Still nothing.

"Finally, we tried a broken bottle ground up with seawater and "Blue", a washing detergent, which we soaked in a cotton cloth and inserted into my womanhood," she confessed.

"By doing that the foetus came. I bled and bled and bled for more than five days."

Gloria is today in constant pain and too afraid to see a doctor.

She has refused to tell even her mother, who is a midwife.

"If I informed my mother, she would tell my father and that would be the end of me," she explained.

One gynocologist in Ghana says that many of these "quacks" performing the abortions are able to charge high prices due to the illegal nature of the practice. And are able to manipulate even poor women into paying a lot for the procedure.

Furthermore, abortion is technically illegal but under certain circumstances women can demand services from the government.

They are: if she gets pregnant as a result of rape, incest or reduced mental ability; if the pregnancy poses a risk to her physical or mental health, and if the unborn child might suffer an abnormality or disease.

But that is if they know the law at all and that is a major problem.

Women and girls, doctors, quacks, the police, even judges, have all been shown to be ignorant of Ghana's law, or have wilfully broken it knowing they will not be caught.

Scary.

via BBC News.

2 Comments

January 12, 2007 8:24 AM

[0+]  Groovadelic said:

We need to remember that it isn't only in Ghana that illegal abortions are done. They're also done in developed countries... Like America, our own hometurf. Before we try to rightthe ways of foreign countries, perhaps we should right the ways of our own home[s].

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January 15, 2007 11:46 AM

[0+]  theorajones said:

Um, with a lifetime maternal mortality rate of 1 in 35 (UNICEF stats), I think ANY Ghanian woman has a good argument for a pregnancy being "life threatening."

Just saying.

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