The article I chose for this blog
was, Abortion and Contraceptive Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Women Plan Their
Families (Lauro, 2011). In this article explores the issues of contraception
and how it relates to African women within Sub-Saharan Africa. There are very
few women that use any form of contraception, much of the reason has been
linked to these women being uneducated about contraception. Also many women do
not have access to contraception which leaves them open to unwanted pregnancy.
The article further discusses into depth about how abortion has impacted this
society. Many in Sub-Saharan Africa are attached to their socioeconomic beliefs
and there for, believe that if a woman gives birth to a child out of marriage
it is shameful. They also believe that induced abortion is more practical to
rid them of shame, as long as it is done privately. The article further
discusses how some parts of Africa believe that just because a woman receives
and abortion does not mean that the spirit will continue in death until it is
reborn, suggesting that both life and death is a spiritual cycle.
Although abortion is illegal in some parts of
Africa it is still practiced, and people are able to receive aftercare from
hospitals. The beliefs about contraception in this part of the world are
preventing these women from safeguarding themselves against many dangers such
as STI’s and unwanted pregnancy, which then forces them to get abortions. But
if they do receive an abortion they are then faced with having to endure the
shame that their communities place on them. While much of the world is living
in a modern day society where things such as contraception are readily
available, the women in Sub-Saharan Africa are unfortunately being denied these choices.
Lauro, D. (2011). Abortion and
Contraceptive Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Women Plan Their Families. African
Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive,
Vol. 15, No. 1 (March 2011), pp. 13-23. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/
