(Njogu wa Njeri is a columnist and a trained journalist)
The few cases of unsafe abortions all over the country that see the light of day are a mere representation of hundreds of such cases that occur daily.
According to a shocking report released in 2012 by Africa Population and Health Research Centre, Kenya leads in Sub-Saharan Africa in the number of induced abortions annually at an estimated 464,000 cases.
However, the most intriguing and bizarre fact that is apparent is that the source of most of these cases can be traced to men; women have little or nothing to do with decision making throughout this process.
Men are wired to be the providers and pull the strings in matters raising children. Even for the weighty decision of procuring an abortion is in most cases determined by them.
From a quick analysis of the obvious – the state of things that has been overlooked since time immemorial, men push women to procure abortion oblivious of the dangers associated with it.
Backstreet abortion to be precise poses grave danger to hundreds of women whose hands are tied by the illegality of abortion in Kenya yet desperate to get rid of the pregnancy by all means possible.
In most cases, upon learning about the pregnancy, men demand that the woman procures abortion, advises the rather-confused woman that abortion is the only option or completely refuses to support her financially and emotionally.
In more enigmatic situations, men undertake clandestine plans and go to the extent of identifying a quack to do the job.
Others pay for the ‘services rendered’ to these quacks, buy the prescribed drugs and offer handouts to the woman after which they vanish completely.
Out of this, it is factual to assert that men have a larger share of blame as this can be tamed if they become more responsible and supportive.
Thus, it is imperative that men be enlightened and incorporated in the fight against unsafe abortions.
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