Support infertile women against discrimination

The Herald, 24 December 2006 SOCIETY should not shun or stigmatise infertile women, but should instead support them on how to cope with childlessness, a women’s organisation has pleaded.

In a statement, Chipo Chedu Association of Women Living with Infertility said infertility and childlessness have always carried a social stigma and those affected endure the agony of shouldering all sorts of accusations.

“Of late, childless women have made headlines in our local newspapers for stealing babies from their unwary mothers in attempts to fight stereotyping that comes with their condition.

“It is therefore, pertinent that we assist them with providing ideas and other positive means of dealing with the natural problem,” read the statement.

The statement also noted that some infertile women suffered a lot due to lack of knowledge on available treatment and issues surrounding infertility, hence they tended to accept the evil labels given by the society.

The organisation pointed out that there was need for financial support to the women so that their needs are met. In that light, Chipo Chedu will be hosting a New Year’s Eve fundraising dinner next Sunday at Ruwa Country Club.

The organisation aims to set up a fertility centre in the country to enhance its services that include raising awareness on infertility and fighting discrimination against childless women.

Infertility is one of the problems affecting and breaking up marriages, as it has become a tradition among Zimbabweans that women should bear children for their husbands.

Chipo Chedu spokesperson Evelyn Madziba said husbands use infertility as an excuse for promiscuity.

“They openly bring home other women to bear them children, and in the process subject their partners to unspeakable physical and emotional abuse. Women in such relationships have found it almost impossible to turn to their families for support, as it is believed the man is justified in his search for an heir to his name,” said Madziba.

According to statistics provided by the organisation, 10 to 15 percent of couples in the world are childless while 94 percent of those affected never seek medical attention or do not have access to it.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ How do you rate yourself regarding the social stigma or discrimination issue? Social stigma is defined as the “disapproval with a person on the grounds of a particular characteristic, which distinguishes them from others

in society”, e.g. infertility? ◆ What is amazing is that infertility in couples could be a result of the man’s impotence, but in a majority of cases, the blame is put on the woman. The woman is made to live in guilt and shame. ◆ In Zimbabwe, just like other African countries childless couples are victims of stigma and discrimination, although infertile women bear a greater part of the stigma. They end up isolated, which can result in depression, which if not checked, can result in other serious mental health challenges.

◆ Joyce Sembuya, a Ugandan civic

organisation founder amplifies this in a WHO article: “Our culture demands that for a woman to be socially acceptable, she should have at least one biological child. Almost all cultures across Africa put emphasis on women having children. . . Marriage without children is considered as a failure of the two individuals.”

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