Introduction:
Pregnancy and motherhood are an individual's choice. Having or not having a child is primarily the mother's decision, as she is vital in conceiving and carrying the child. Motherhood cannot be forced on someone or cannot be attained by compulsion. However, even with such modernization and technological advances, women are still subjected to forced pregnancy. They are forced to conceive and carry a child under the pretext of social, cultural, and religious stigma. Sexual violence, rape, and marital rape are common reasons for unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. In such a situation, the female should have the sole right to decide if the pregnancy should be continued, and if she desires otherwise, she deserves legal help to terminate the same. Pregnancy and parenthood is a beautiful journey that should be planned and committed with the consent of both individuals involved.
What Is Abortion?
Any unwanted or unplanned pregnancy should be terminated medically. This procedure is known as abortion. Abortion can be done medically or surgically. Roughly 73 million abortions are conducted globally in a year. It is estimated that 61 % of unintended pregnancies end up in abortion. Abortion is a challenging and distressing situation followed by an array of emotional and psychological issues. Abortions primarily depend on the gestation age of the fetus and are broadly classified into two types:
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Medical Abortion: This type is usually preferred in early pregnancy, up to 10 weeks. Drugs like Mifepristone and Misoprostol are commonly used to terminate pregnancy. Medical abortion can be conducted at home or in a clinical setup.
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Surgical Abortion: Advanced pregnancies may require surgical termination, usually conducted in a hospital or medical facility.
Abortion, when carried under trained professionals and comprehensive medical care, is safe and causes no adverse events. Medical abortions can be well managed by the patients at home if carried out under appropriate medical supervision. Comprehensive abortion care usually includes pre-abortion counseling, abortion management, and post-abortion care.
However, when the pregnancy is unintended or due to forced conditions, women face severe backlashes when they desire to terminate the pregnancy. The fear of social discrimination, shame, humiliation, dishonor, and defamation may provoke them to resort to unsafe methods of abortion. In addition, certain socioeconomic barriers and geographic limitations, such as access to health care, may be difficult and may hinder safe abortion, forcing women to continue the pregnancy.
Abortion is a significant public health concern that needs to be addressed legally so that all women have access to safe, timely, and respectful abortion.
What Is the Need for Abortion?
Women may desire an abortion for various reasons. A few of them are listed below:
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Unwanted or unplanned pregnancy.
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Lack of financial support.
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Partner-related issues.
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Emotionally or mentally unprepared.
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Health-related concerns.
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Social influences.
An abortion should be justified if a woman seeks the same. A child born of unwanted pregnancy may face various developmental and social problems that could be detrimental. Hence understanding the women's decision and supporting her in terminating the pregnancy would be more favorable. Granting her the rights to safe, respectful, and timely abortion is obligatory.
What Are the Risks of Unsafe Abortion?
Studies indicate that 45 % of induced abortions are unsafe, particularly in developing countries where 97 % of abortions carried out are unsafe. The unsafe practices include being carried out in the least safe environment, by quacks, and using invasive and dangerous methods. Inadequate access to healthcare facilities and timely abortion leave women with no choice but to resort to unsafe methods. In addition, the risk of being exposed to society which may pose social and cultural barriers hinders the physical and mental well-being of these ladies. Unsafe abortions are one of the leading causes of maternal death. It accounts for 4.7 to 13.2 % of deaths every year. Developing countries have 220 deaths out of every 100000 unsafe abortions. The risks associated with unsafe abortion are:
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Hemorrhage that could lead to death.
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Incomplete abortion and infection or sepsis.
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Uterine perforation.
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Damage to reproductive or vaginal organs.
Why Should Abortion Be Legalized?
Abortion laws and regulations are very restrictive and indeed a cause for stigma and distress in women. In addition, inadequate public transport forces women to travel to receive primary health care, imposing financial burdens, and prolonged waiting periods make abortion inaccessible to women in rural areas. This violates women's human rights, including the right to equality, non-discrimination, and privacy.
Legalizing abortion has been a controversial issue for a while. Individuals who condemn abortion do it on the grounds of religious, moral, or cultural reasons. However, legalizing abortion grants fundamental human rights to women who can decide for a better purpose. A few reasons why abortion should be legalized are given below:
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It offers women the right to equality, the right to privacy, and the right to non-discrimination. Human rights allow women to choose and have control over their bodies and decide whether or not having a child is suitable for them and the child's better future. Forceful motherhood may not end well either for the mother or for the child. Parenting has to be an individual's choice and not forced upon.
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Legalizing abortions will reduce or eliminate the need for unsafe abortion. Most women resort to unsafe practices to terminate their pregnancy as the law doesn't allow them under certain circumstances. WHO claims that by providing access to superior family planning facilities and permitting legal abortion management and good post-abortion care, unsafe abortion and its related consequences can be terminated.
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Legalizing abortion may also reduce the mental, emotional and psychological despair in women receiving the abortion.
Will Legalizing Abortion Be Enough?
Though many countries have legalized abortion yet, is it enough? India has legalized abortion for the past 47 years, yet unsafe abortions and subsequent deaths are reported daily. Abortion in India is governed by the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, which states that abortion can be conducted only if poses a health risk to the mother or child. However, the apex court in 2022 directed that all women, regardless of their marital status, can obtain an abortion up to 24 weeks after their gestational period. Though the recent law change has emphasized women's rights, these regulations can still be prohibitive in some areas dominated by religious or other cultural trends. With not much decline in rape or marital rape cases, unsafe abortions may prevail, considering the stigma and shame. Hence government should enforce strict laws on rape and sexual crimes. Sex education should be mandatory in every school. The government and NGOs should carry out better counseling and publicize safe abortions. The government should entitle certain socioeconomic rights to single mothers to prevent them from opting for unsafe abortions.
Conclusion:
The community can benefit significantly by legalizing abortion. Unwanted and undesired pregnancies due to forced sex, rape, or violence can be traumatic. Granting them a legal, safe and respectful abortion will not only prevent unsafe practices but also shield the women's basic human rights and thus offer them individuality and justice.
