From a Survivor to youth SRH Champion
A youth-friendly post-abortion care influenced by SYV project at Kitanzini Ward, in Iringa Municipality saved a life of a16 year old Sasha (Not her real name). Raised solely by her mother, Sasha finished her primary school studies in 2020 but was not able to continue with her secondary studies as her mother failed to support her studies.
In August 2023 at that tender age, Sasha found herself in a heartbreaking dilemma after she discovered that she was pregnant by a man who thereafter rejected the pregnancy and did not want to be associated with her. Considering her family’s struggles, Sasha decided to keep this deep secrete from her mother but confided in her best friend who was familiar to her family.
This friend advised her to terminate the pregnancy, this was the cruelest advice that Sasha thought she could have received from a person she entrusted. “That was the difficult words to hear. I felt worried and my body was shivering for the fear of what might happen. I recalled some of the stories of women and girls who died after attempt to terminate the pregnancy. I was also worried what will happen if my mother found out that I got pregnant and went for abortion as I am sure she will be strongly against it. I was left in dilemma between the dangers and risk of terminating the pregnancy and also my mother knowing that I am pregnant.” – Explained Sasha.
Sasha made careful consideration on the advice she received but what caused her more fear is raising the child alone. She was aware of challenges associated to raising a child alone seeing what she and her mother went through. Sasha had no option than to terminate the pregnancy. “I was in agreement with the suggestion from my friend to abort. I had no idea on how to go about it and my friend told me that she heard other girls saying metronidazole tablets are a good and safe medicine for pregnancy termination. I went to the pharmacy which is far from home bought and took them. I remember taking about 8 to 10 pills. My condition became worse and after two days I started experiencing heavy bleeding and severe stomach pain.”
At this point, Sasha did not inform her mother exactly what happened to her but rather insisted she is experiencing severe bleeding and abdominal pain but did not disclose that it was a result of pregnancy termination. Despite admitting her instinct told her that her mother might have suspected she had an abortion it was her mother who took Sasha to Kitanzani Dispensary, Iringa.
On her way to the facility, Sasha was afraid. She had heard other girls and young women speak of how health care providers react negatively when they receive a client who has had an abortion. Filled with fear that the health care providers might disclose the secret to her mother and that she might have to bear the brunt of her action she hesitated. To her surprise, she received a nice reception and was well attended by health care workers from Kitanzini dispensary. They had participated in trainings organized by SYV on youth-friendly SRHR services and comprehensive family planning including cPAC.
“I was received well and I remember to have asked the health care worker that I don’t want at this point my mother to know what had happened. The provider understood my position and situation and after I was received and provided a bed rest and first Aid service, they told my mother to go back home and prepare some food. They used the opportunity to attend to me. The health care workers were so positive and I was happy they understood my situation and my decision. I was happy to get back healthier and I had recovered well. Also, they advised me to take a long-term family planning method so that my body can get the much-needed rest otherwise I might get pregnant again which could put my health and life at more risk.”
The health care worker from Kitanzini dispensary offered a chance for Sasha to participate in weekend clinics organized by the facility with support from the SYV project. “The health care worker told me that they are conducting youth weekend clinics at the facility and I should consider coming to participate in order to learn more about adolescents and young people sexual and reproductive health. I started participating in weekend clinics and realized that it is such a great platform as I get to know and learn a lot about youth SRHR. From these sessions, it became so much clear that young people are been fed with a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about sexuality and our sexual health. I wish I could have this information earlier and maybe it could have helped me make informed decisions and not become pregnant at young age.”
Sasha does not only participate in youth weekend clinics as client, she is also educating her peers about making informed decisions about their SRH and that it is important for young people to seek relevant information to health care providers. She hopes to continue learning and educating other adolescents and young people to make informed choices about their bodies and their health.
