Women and Reproductive Health Challenges in Igboland: A Historical Study

Abstract:

The objective of the work is women and reproductive health challenges in south east, Nigeria. The research also treats the nature of reproductive health challenges in Igboland before and after 1970, and the official reaction to reproductive health challenges in contemporary Igboland. The research method employed was the qualitative analytical method which involved content analysis of relevant documentary data on the subject. The approach adopted was also thematic. The research findings indicate that reproductive health challenges in Igboland before and after 1970 can be classified into five, namely: genetic reproductive health challenge, witchcraft and curses, labor and accident, harmful socio-cultural practices, as well as infectious and communicable disease. The government response to reproductive health challenges includes the different frameworks for the protection of the reproductive health rights of women. These include the domestic instruments as well as the international instruments ratified by the government. The study observed that a number of factors inhibit the provision and availability of reproductive health rights in south east Nigeria, and it includes the social and economic factors as well as cultural and religious factors. It also argues that in spite of these challenges, some successes have been recorded as a result of the official responses to reproductive health challenges in Igboland. These include the elimination of child marriages, reduction in the violence against women and reduction of the harmful cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation (known as women circumcision) and polygamy.