Young Ghanaian girl from a remote part of Ghana. She was brought to Accra by a young man after she was married to him.
In Accra she got pregnant and started having complications. She had polyhydramnios (Too much amniotic fluid in utero). Though she was in her second trimester, her tummy was as though she was carrying twins. She had already started having lower abdominal pains.
She was really sick and needed to be monitored. All explanations were given to the husband, but he insisted the lady be discharged for him. He was so furious all the nurses were scared and wanted to discharge this young woman to him. His plan was to send the young woman to his parents in the village. This journey will be more than 12 hours and they will be going without an ambulance or health worker. The surprising thing was how his sisters who were women supported their brother to take his wife out of the hospital against medical advice.
The young woman had relatives in Accra, but was insisting it’s against her tradition to give birth in your mother’s house. She had to be with the man or his family to avoid bad luck.
She knew she was at risk, but her belief in all these traditions was deeply rooted. She will not go against them. She was not happy with the man’s decision to be sent to the village, but to her, she has no right to decide for herself even in this critical circumstance.
The issue was really complicated. How do you advocate for a woman who will give you up if any situation should arise. Every one of the doctors, nurses recoiled.
It took the intervention of that bold midwife to speak to the husband. She sat him down and explained to him the risk he is posing to the young woman. What if labor sets in on the way and she starts bleeding, what will happen.
Her sister in law was asked in their face if they were in her situation. Will they be happy? Will they allow their brother to risk the life of another woman’s child? This got to them. They vanished a few minutes from the hospital.
Husband now agrees to keep the woman in the hospital. In less than 12 hours the following morning, she had gone into labor and delivered. She was now free of her complications and smiling. Husband comes and thanks the midwives for advocating on behalf of his wife.
It’s important that we begin to think about how our cultural values affect maternal health. Negative beliefs can increase maternal mortality.
Women should understand that they have a say in decisions that affect them.
Men should also support their wives or partners to make decisions that will benefit the women as well. This can go a long way to reduce maternal mortality in Africa.
Several women have lost their lives due to delay in decision making. Waiting for husbands, pastors or other people to decide what should happen to their lives. This is highly unacceptable!, and must change.
Cultural practices that affect women negatively should be changed through education and awareness creation.
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