Women’s health: Where is the deal for Uganda’s women?

Posted on March 11, 2010
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Amelia, a 30-year-old Sabiny woman and mother of six, who lives in the remote fringes of Bugimotwa village in Kapchorwa district, would like to stop giving birth, but due to lack of contraceptives, she is unable to. This has led to high fertility rates - with women producing up to seven children. About 90 per cent of pregnancies in this village are unintended.

“I once carried out an abortion and bled to near death. We have been hearing that abortion is illegal so we do it secretly with local doctors,” Amelia says. As if that is not bad enough, she has to be carried on a stretcher for over 40kms to the nearest hospital to get post-abortion care. She was advised to have a balanced diet, especially foods containing iron in order to replace the blood she had lost, something she could not afford because of poverty.

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According to the 2006 Uganda Demographic Health Survey, over 1.4 million women in Uganda would like to delay pregnancy, space children or stop child bearing, but do not have access to contraceptive methods. Only 24 per cent of Uganda’s married women aged 15-49 use family planning. The survey identifies lack of accurate information about the benefits of family planning, poverty, cultural/religious beliefs and lack of empowerment as the hindrances to contraception in Uganda.

Ugandan women are among the most fertile in the world. The survey puts the average number at 6.7 children. Four out of 10 women would like to stop or space their next birth but are not using any family planning method.

More: http://www.ippf.org/en/News/Intl+news/Womens+health+Where+is+the+deal+for+Ugandas+women.htm