‘I nearly touched hell’

‘I nearly touched hell’ < SRHM

July 24, 2024:

Bhekisisa Health
Inside the illegal abortion market: ‘I nearly touched hell’

By Wendy Muperi

Zimbabwe’s tight abortion laws aren’t curbing demand, they’re driving them underground — and it’s about to get worse.

SRHM article, Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking post-abortion care in Zimbabwe by M Catherine Maternowska, Alexio Mashu, Precious Moyo, et al. was recently cited in the article below by the Bhekisisa Centre. The study surveyed 42 doctors, nurses and general practitioners in 2012 and found that the majority favoured removing legal restrictions on abortion.

Read the full article: https://bhekisisa.org/article/2019-01-29-00-illegal-abortions-zimbabwe-shut-down-what-is-the-gag-rules-impact-contraception/

Read the full SRHM study:

Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking post-abortion care in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, abortions are legally restricted and complications from unsafe abortions are a major public health concern. This study in 2012 explored women’s and providers’ perspectives in Zimbabwe on the acceptability of the use of misoprostol as a form of treatment for complications of abortion in post-abortion care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 115 participants at seven post-abortion care facilities. Participants included 73 women of reproductive age who received services for incomplete abortion and 42 providers, including physicians, nurses, midwives, general practitioners and casualty staff.

Only 29 providers had previously used misoprostol with their own patients, and only 21 had received any formal training in its use. Nearly all women and providers preferred misoprostol to surgical abortion methods because it was perceived as less invasive, safer and more affordable. Women also generally preferred the non-surgical method, when given the option, as fears around surgery and risk were high. Most providers favoured removing legal restrictions on abortion, particularly medical abortion.

Approving use of misoprostol for post-abortion care in Zimbabwe is important in order to reduce unsafe abortion and its related sequelae. Legal, policy and practice reforms must be accompanied by effective reproductive health curricula updates in medical, nursing and midwifery schools, as well as through updated training for current and potential providers of post-abortion care services nationwide. Our findings support the use of misoprostol in national post-abortion care programmes, as it is an acceptable and potentially life-saving treatment option.

Please note that blog posts are not peer-reviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of SRHM as an organisation.

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Bhekisisa HealthInside the illegal abortion market: ‘I nearly touched hell’

Zimbabwe’s tight abortion laws aren’t curbing demand, they’re driving them underground — and it’s about to get worse.

Bhekisisa Health
Inside the illegal abortion market: ‘I nearly touched hell’