WUNRN
SUB-SAHARA AFRICA – REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS – ANY HOPE FOR
INFERTILE WOMEN?
Uju
Peace Okeke*
Summary
All
over the world, children are cherished, making procreation a topical issue.
Procreation is significant in Africa because many cultures encourage fecundity.
The absence of social welfare for the elderly in many parts, and the practice
of subsistence economy contribute to the increased economic value of children.
These underpin the claim that procreation is the primary reason for marriage.
Despite
the importance of procreation, male and female infertility, a culturally
unacceptable condition in Africa, is on the increase and somewhat shrouded in
mystery. Regrettably, whether it is male or female-caused, women bear the
greater burden in many parts of Africa because of patriarchy and traditional
definition of women by their reproductive functions.
This
article examines prevalence, pattern and factors of female infertility in
sub-Saharan Africa particularly Nigeria, in the light of the description of the
region as an ‘infertility belt’. It further considers the consequences and
options available to infertile women. Wearing human rights lens, it asks
whether there is a human right to procreate. It answers this question in the
affirmative, arguing that regional human rights instruments and the doctrine of
‘implicitly guaranteed rights’ propounded by the Africa Commission preserve
this right.
Appraising
the different means of addressing female infertility in the region, it proposes
prevention as the immediate, effective solution to the realization of
reproductive right of procreation. While noting the pronounced challenges of
costs and overpopulation facing some parts of the region, it proffers some
recommendations. It concludes that prevention of female infertility is
imperative, in view of other threatening situations like scourge of HIV/AIDS,
high infant mortality, widespread maternal mortality, low life expectancy and
endemic poverty.
*LLB (OAU )LLM (Specializing in Sexual and Reproductive Rights)
University of the Free State South Africa. ujupeaceo@yahoo.com
Okeke Uju Peace & Co. - Legal and ADR
Practitioners, Consultants and Notary Public