Abortion in Botswana
In today's world, Abortion in Botswana is a topic that has gained great relevance and has aroused widespread interest in society. Whether due to its impact on people's daily lives, its relevance in the professional field or its influence on technological development, Abortion in Botswana has become a recurring topic of conversation in different areas. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the most relevant aspects of Abortion in Botswana and analyze its importance in the current context. Additionally, we will examine its evolution over time and its possible impact in the future.
Abortion in Botswana is only legal if the abortion will save the woman's life, if the pregnancy gravely endangers the woman's physical or mental health, or if it is a result of rape or incest. In Botswana, abortions that meet these requirements must be performed within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy in a government hospital and must be approved by two physicians.
Impact of restrictive abortion laws
Though women in Botswana are recognized as having some of the best access to abortions in Sub-Saharan Africa because of these exceptions, many women are still resorting to unsafe abortions and self-induced abortions, commonly leading to maternal death.
Socio-cultural impacts on abortion
In Botswana, many families still follow the lobolo custom where men pay a woman's family in order to take her as a bride. This has established an expectation that husbands have paid for and own their wives' bodies, including their reproductive rights. Even though this sentiment may lead to pregnancy that is a result of rape, hospitals and clinics are unlikely to approve marital rape cases as justifying abortion, as cultural norms suggest husbands are entitled to their wives' bodies.
References
- ^ a b c Abortion Policies: Afghanistan to France. United Nations Publications. 2001. ISBN 9789211513653. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Smith, Stephanie S. (Dec 2013). "Reproductive health and the question of abortion in Botswana: a review". African Journal of Reproductive Health. 17 (4). Retrieved 4 December 2014.
