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I have had five abortions. Two were done when I was 17 and 20 years old, after being raped by a friend of my biological brother, whom I was staying with.
At that time, I was a student. But I had unsafe abortions because I didn't know any information about abortion. So of course, I could not realize that abortion can be done medically.
And honestly, the person who impregnated me was the one involved in the termination of the pregnancies because, for me I had no finance and I told him I needed to finish my studies.
Later, two abortions were done medically, because I had started receiving information of when, where and how to visit the hospital to terminate a pregnancy, though abortion is not allowed. Laws and policies are not clear in Uganda, so doctors terminate pregnancies under pressure and fear. These abortions happened while I was still in school.
My last abortion was when I was already married. My husband was laid off from his job and he was jobless, and by then I had produced three kids that I was looking after. They were still very young to add another kid. We planned together and ended the pregnancy.
All these abortions I had, I felt them differently, the shame, stigma, and other related issues. But I have never been regrettable because, if I had not done abortion, my life would be in a dilemma and in negative. I would not have finished my studies if I had children I had to manage at the moment.
This took me a long time, like 41 years, to talk about my abortion experiences, even when I was advising other women to speak up and support other people who have had abortions to chase away the shame, fear and stigma.
But then I joined inroads and started gaining support, power, and courage to start sharing my abortions stories. I am now a shame and stigma free person and am doing my abortion stigma busting work in my country Uganda very well and incredibly. Thank you inroads for mentoring me!
I offer these encouraging words to people who have had abortions: You are the experts of your body and your life. You should make the right choice for you! Always remember that abortion is health care. No matter how many abortions you had, can not change that! What I have found out is that "people who have had abortions are holy!”
~ Kiconco Grace Barbara, working with TURGET Uganda, an organization that empowers women and young people to access quality, adequate and equitable sexual and reproductive health services and rights in Uganda.