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These days there are many bogus doctors performing abortions. Even though the police are not certain how and where they have acquired their qualifications and the procedure they use is totally different from the ones used in legal clinics such as the Marie Stopes clinics. They cannot by law go out and arrest these doctors.
Lieutenant Colonel Mtati Tana of the communications office for the police in East London said: “Since abortion is legal in this country it is hard for the police to just go out and arrest people as that might result into legal implications.
Reasons why teenagers go to these backstreet abortions:
- they are cheaper
- convincing people that they are painless
- they take up to 30 minutes
- they are 100% guaranteed
Although most countries in Africa have legalized abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, many women still choose to do ‘back street’ abortions, i.e. abortions that are not administered by doctors at hospitals.
Despite the legality of abortion in South Africa, many pregnant women still opt for illegal abortions. This may be due to the target advertising by private doctors who operate in clinics. These doctors print out pamphlets and leave them in various public spaces, including bus stops.
While these advertisements seem to be providing much-needed solutions for unwanted pregnancies, the problem is that many of these doctors do not have the proper equipment to deal with potential emergencies during the procedure. Many patients hemorrhage, which can lead to infertility and death. There is also the prevalent problem of septicemia, caused by unsterilized equipment, which can also leads to death.
If we are to stop illegal abortions --and I believe that given the dangers they pose, they should be stopped-- then public education is key. In the UK, a prominent step was taken that combated unsafe abortion techniques, by using television advertising of the facilities and options available to women. Surely we need to do the same thing in South Africa? Such a television campaign would be challenging. Anti-abortion campaigners would no doubt oppose it but we or the state need to educate women about their rights, where they can access safe abortions and the dangers of backstreet abortions.
I personally think SA should implement that strategy because our peers end up going to back street abortions which is not safe @ all..I also heared that hospitals also offer legal abortions free of charge,so the media should do what they get paid for which is informing people about the legal way of terminating pregnancy at hospitals.
ReplyDeleteBackstreet abortions have always been a dangerous way to make a quick buck but the nurses at our clinics should also take the blame, because they constantly judge young girls who want to do abortions at registered clinics.
ReplyDeleteThe sisters should learn to some responsibility. They surely know about the danger of back door abortion but stil thy still insist on going. Government cant fight this alone, sister's who stil goe to back door abortion take responsibility for their own actions.
ReplyDeleteIndeed the must be a firm law that will terminate illegal abortions. This backstreet abortions they are not only a danger to young girls but it is also an insult to our health system. As a young person i would be proud if the government can have a firm hand to the unregistered abortion stations.
ReplyDeletePeace there are procedures that need to be followed when choosing to terminate the pregnancy,it must not be older than 12 weeks but these girls choose to go even after the above mentioned period thats why these nurses freak out@ Steven I agree with you abortions are offered at local clinics and they are for free I still wonder why these girls sacrifice their lives like this @ Thato I think abortions should go back to being illegal
ReplyDeleteThe nurses's communication towards the teens...i think the fact that they are rude,that makes teens to rather go to unsafe places
ReplyDeletetrue i agree with u Thobeka
ReplyDeleteit is about time people stop gambling with their lives by going to such places for abortion as it is well known that it is not safe. It is about time people start practicing safe sex or they should just abstain.
ReplyDelete