Topic > Legalization of Abortion

Medically terminating a pregnancy before it has the potential to result in the birth of a child is an abortion (Izugbara, Otsola, & Ezeh, 2009). Abortion has yet to be legalized in Kenya due to pro-life and pro-choice arguments. Pro-life believers, especially the church, believe that children are a gift from God and should not be killed under any circumstances. Pro-choice advocates believe that every individual should have the right to choose whether to continue the pregnancy or terminate it for various reasons. Abortion should be a choice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The population of Kenya according to the latest census stands at 41.6 million, this figure estimates that there are approximately 36 new births per 1000 inhabitants (East Africa Center for Law and Justice, 2016). Kenya is a growing economy and has yet to have the resources to sustain a birth rate of 2.5% per year. Research shows that most pregnancies are unplanned and occur mainly among the lower social classes who cannot afford a dignified life. Africa, especially Kenya, is socially conservative, so pregnancy that occurs before marriage is considered an indecent act especially if it occurs between teenagers. Parents who do not want to face social stigma take their children for abortions in secondary clinics where doctors have no medical qualifications in Medicine let alone Gynaecology. They use unsterilized instruments and uncertified methods to perform abortions. Every year 21,000 are admitted to hospital due to the practice of unsafe abortions and 2,600 die due to infections, complications or excessive blood loss (East African Center for Law and Justice, 2016). Abortion in rural environment is completely detested compared to urban areas as people here are more liberal. Life in a rural environment is difficult; finances are strained as most people depend on small-scale farming as a source of income. Therefore, any addition to the family ends up putting a strain on the meager resources; they may not have the opportunity to get a decent education, which ultimately affects the jobs available to them. The cycle of poverty, as a result, continues instead of encouraging natural parenting, and society cannot afford the safe abortion that seems the best option in such situations. Social stigma is a major factor in rural settings, so unwanted pregnancies are completely hidden and victims' mothers adopt unconventional ways to terminate the pregnancy. Familiar methods used to induce abortion in rural areas are the use of pills or concoctions. The concoctions are usually a mix of shrubs that have no scientific basis for use in abortions, but older women are assumed to have experience, so they have the responsibility to prepare them. A 17-year-old girl almost died after taking one of the concoctions, as reported by one of the nationally accredited newspapers in Kenya. Rape causes unplanned and unwanted pregnancies which push victims to resort to abortion. According to the Constitution of Kenya, abortion is only permitted if, in the opinion of the trained health professional, the mother's health is in danger (East African Center for Law and Justice, 2016). The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) in Kenya defends women who are victims of rape. The CRR provides them with affordable post-rape healthcare, counseling and support groups, and represents them against perpetrators in court (Center for Reproductive Rights, 2016)., 28(4), 397-425.