Wednesday, September 26, 2012

World Contraception Day 2012 .When a "mistake" can spoil the future

 

about two weeks ago I saw a girl in my clinic and found herself in a very difficult situation. She was 17 and was a inter college student in a remote place. i discovered that she was pregnant. Her parents didn't even know she had a boyfriend, AND was pregnant.
the only thing that kept going through my mind was why such a situation should arise: at that moment the only thing that came out from my mouth was: “what made you to be sexually active so early?” "weren't you on the pill? Why did you not use a condom?"She had no answer for that.
At that point in her life, having a baby would be a disaster. Not only because she needs time to raise the child, but mostly because she has no money to support it.and has to leave study. i asked her to attend post-partum center next morning.
I'm sad to say what she couldn’t find a doctor there. she went to a clandestine abortion clinic and submitted herself to a procedure that lasts no longer than few minutes. had severe bleeding but returned home with few medicines.she bled heavily, RUSHED to hospital in astage of shock .to her good luck She recovered with transfusion of three units of blood.
I didn't ask her about the abortion as nothing was congenial to her. there were OPPORTUNITIES when she could have been helped. she was afraid to see a doctor soon after missing her PERIOD BECAUSE to her it was an illegal procedure, SHE COULDN’T even consulted anyone with the fear that her parents could know about it.
for such A mistake without social support and mechanism for its redressal is bound to spoil the future of many more teens.Especially in DEVELOPING COUNTRIES like india where abortion is legal, BUT access to the abortion CENTER and availability of qualified doctor is difficult AND can socially be highly dangerous.
Talking, asking, and thinking about using contraceptive methods saves lives

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