Should we legalize abortion or not?
Pro-choice advocates want abortion legalized to reduce maternal mortality and alt f unsafe abortion.
Several advocacy groups, among them International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion, argued that religious and cultural norms should not be a hindrance for countries to enact laws on safe abortion.
“If people want to be bound by religious norms it is okay. If you have a law on safe abortion, it does not mean every woman will be forced to do it,” said Dr Shilpa Shroff, the director of International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion.
In a study conducted by IPAS, religious and cultural norms ware identified as the sources of increasing stigma on abortion issues.
Also Read: Negative side effects of contraceptives
Stigmatization of school-going girls and single mothers who get pregnant is on the rise hence making these vulnerable people to shy off from seeking medical services from registered facilities. This increases the number of backstreet abortions hence more complications are developed and on worse cases, death is witnessed.
In the Kenyan constitution, Article 26(4). Right to Life, give guidelines to when abortion should be procured, “Abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law.”
The debate on abortion proved quite a hot subject during one of the sessions at the population conference, which ended 2 weeks ago. Several advocacy groups insisted abortion should be legalized as one of the ways of reducing maternal mortality.
Reduction of maternal mortality is one of the commitments made by countries attending the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) summit.
Do you have any news or article you would like us to publish? Kindly reach us via outreach@t4d.co.ke or howtodoafrica@gmail.com.
