Would you keep a rape pregnancy?

It’s been seven years since Agatha got married without a child. She was quite lucky she was married to a good family because her in-laws never for once questioned her inability to have kids. Also, her husband stood by her through it all, even when doctors said her chances of conceiving were very slim.

However, one ugly night, men of the underworld came knocking at the Nelsons’ home and they took away all they had… and raped Agatha. That very night, everything changed in the Nelson family.

Few weeks later, she realized she was pregnant and all hell was let loose by her husband. He wanted Agatha to go flush the bastard out, but Agatha felt it was her only chance of ever having a child. Agatha was torn between keeping the pregnancy and having an abortion.

We sought the view of some women what action they would take if they were in Agatha’s shoes. We asked some women if they would abort or leave a pregnancy, which came as a result of being raped?

MRS. CHIDINMA NNANNA
This depends on individuals. If such happens to me personally, I would not want to keep such pregnancy because people will laugh at me and also make mockery at me when the child grows up.
I won’t be happy with such pregnancy for nine months. I will not have rest of mind with such pregnancy because the ugly imagination will always come to the mind.
So the best thing is terminate the pregnancy. My husband would not want such pregnancy. It could hinder me of some good things in the future.

MRS. CLARA BROWN
I will not, and I don’t think any reasonable woman would. Religious sentiments apart, nobody, except those who are afraid of abortion or who have been without a child for so many years would see it as a miraculous gift.

Is it the stigmatization you will suffer, or the lack of trust your husband would start having in you; the shame, sad moments, the unforgiving hearts to the rapist which will definitely pass on to the innocent child? After having the baby, how would you manage the mixed feelings? Would it not create problem later in life? How would your husband see this product of rape?
No matter how spiritually inclined the husband could be, it will get to a stage he will no longer want to see the child. Your husband could one day tell you to send the child to his father and that he doesn’t want a bastard in his home. So what would you do? Where will you trace the father to?

JOY
For me, I will keep the pregnancy because I don’t know what the child might become in future. People say such pregnancy is bad because no one knows who is responsible for it. Some believe if the father of the child turns out to be a criminal, the baby would take after his steps. But I don’t believe that. I believe God give answers to the requests of His people. If peradventure the father of the child is not a responsible person, it does not make his child also irresponsible. Whatever I ask God He will do for me. I would not abort it because I want it. At same time, I wouldn’t want to commit murder, although it’s painful, shameful and not easy to convince people around me who the father is. I would see the baby as God’s blessing and that God has a purpose for sending him into the world.

MRS. ADARAMOLA
That is extremely difficult to decide on. Everything here involves risk. Keeping the pregnancy is a big risk because of the psychological trauma and stigmatization. Aborting on the other hand is more risky than keeping it; it is a matter of life and death and could hinder or reduce one’s chance of having babies further.

MRS. ALICE HUMPHERY
As we all know that rape is a great crime in the face of the law. Any man that forcefully has carnal knowledge of a woman is not fit to live amongst human beings. In other words, he is likened to a beast and nothing more. Such a person will be charged for rape, segxwal assault, damage and attempted murder, because the woman might die in the process. If there is an incidence of rape, which results in pregnancy, no need keeping it. Why keep it and for what purpose? Keep the pregnancy of someone who never had any feeling for the pain you might be going through? Someone who never cares what happens to you in the process? Someone who only committed rape to satisfy his segxwal desire?

Immediately such happens, the first step I will take is seeing my doctor for medical advice, examination and solution. I will have to clean up my system, take drugs that will prevent any disease and pregnancy. I will not give birth to a bastard or a child whose father is a rapist, a criminal or beast in the making. I will feel ashamed being identified with such a man of boastful behaviour; a rapist and a criminal, a man you cannot feel secure to be with. So why should I even allow the incident result in pregnancy?

MARGRET ADEPELU
It is atimes easier said than done. To keep a pregnancy which is a product of rape is very difficult in the general sphere. But religiously, it is a crime or sin to kill, so this is a dilemma, it is hard a task.

MRS. IBRAHIM
When it comes to issues like this, there are factors we consider. First, consider self integrity; consider what your culture says about it. Look far ahead of the likely impact it would have on you, your family, your life and the life of the child. How many husbands would accommodate a bastard? No matter how strong the love could be, the truth has to be said, it is easier said than done. Your husband will never see the child as his and later you would be frustrated to either part with the child or face the consequence.

MRS. AJANAKU
I will base my point on both religious and cultural aspects because we cannot shy away from our cultural setting. Okay Biblically, aborting such pregnancy is as well known as killing. But the Yoruba culture sees such a child as a bastard and a shame to the family that agrees to take care of him.

MRS ABETUNDE
Well for me, when it happens, nothing more to do than either take up the challenge and take care of the pregnancy. But I think one should just follow her heart.

KAFILAT ADEYEMO
Such pregnancy will not be kept because an adage goes thus: A wonderful home that has not experienced a break up is because the bastard in the house is not grown yet. So keeping the pregnancy is the greatest risk I ever could imagine.