Abortion, sexual education and early pregnancy
THE ABORTION
From a medical point of view, the cessation of pregnancy before fetal development is understood as abortion;while legally abortion is considered the death of the fetus.
The history of abortion in the Peruvian social environment, clearly influenced by the religion of Catholic predominance, is controversial: only in 1924 the therapeutic abortion is legalized, only in cases of pregnancy unfeasibility. However, access to abortion in cases of sexual violence is penalized:
“The abortion practiced by a doctor with the consent of the pregnant woman or her legal representative is not punishable, if she had it, when it is the only means to save the life of the pregnant woman or to avoid in her health a serious and permanent evil."
Despite the aforementioned, there are no women in prisons accused of abortion. While the importance of health, both physical and mental of the victims of sexual violence, referring in this case to women with pregnancies of violations, is despised by the little legal and medical care that is provided;In the Criminal Code it supports the nonates:
“The one that causes damage to the body or in the health of the conceived, will be repressed with deprivation of liberty not less than one year or greater than three."
“Everyone has the right: (…) to life, their identity, their moral, psychic and physical integrity and their free development and well -being. The conceived is subject to law in everything that favors him."
Outside the punishability framework in which eugenic and sentimental abortion is placed (legal name of violation abortion), the State does not have a true presence in the regularization of clandestine abortions, giving way to illegality. Illegality that manifests in women dying or being sterilized by neglect.
According to a survey applied by Promsex, the two methods used – in question of clandestine abortions or carried out in health centers – are more frequently surgical intervention and pills. In addition, the number of women who have aborted is 19%, varying age 18 to 49.
Source: Abortion in figures: survey of women in Peru. Promsex, Center for the Promotion and Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights (2019).
Although a population sector has access to abortion alternatives, minors are not yet being considered:
[…] Figures from the Public Ministry (2013) On average 49 daily complaints of sexual violation are registered. More than 90% of the victims of crimes against sexual freedom are women and the most vulnerable ages in cases of rape are between 14 and 17 years […] 90 out of 100 girls of girls are a consequence of incestuous acts, and 34 of 34 ofEvery 100 pregnant teenagers as a consequence of sexual rape, they committed suicide.
The most vulnerable population is the minor, highlighting victims who do not count economic means. There is an incidence in low socioeconomic levels, which the State does not solve, or implement preventive measures, such as sexual education.
SEX EDUCATION:
It must be understood as a fundamental right to achieve comprehensive education, since sexuality is a present aspect throughout the life of the human being, contributing to the formation of its identity.
In Peru, there has been an increase in sexual violent behaviors, in addition to the increasingly early initiation in sexual life. Despite the requests for implementing a course of this nature in the curriculum, the activism of conservative groups prevents the State from taking true measures.
Although not only is social discontent by conservative or religious sectors, but the little or no training that teachers have in institutions to make this information to students:
“[…] Only 8% of Peruvian teachers received training to teach comprehensive sex education and 50% of teachers who are in charge of this task does not feel trained to do so."
This denial or carelessness by each government of the day originates that students cannot access information that will help them to propose limits for themselves and others, receiving distorted information and macho approach – not to add how fancof- which can offer pornography.
Sexual education helps to make informed decisions regarding the beginning of sexual life, respect for sexual freedom, awareness of the consequences of not using barrier contraceptive methods and about sexual harassment and its different manifestations.
EARLY PREGNANCY:
It is called early pregnancy when the teenager – sources with maximum 19 years – is not prepared psychologically or physically to normally carry the process. The consequences of this are broad, committing from mental health to the life of the pregnant woman.
There is a strong incidence of sexual violence, generally incestuous, as a cause of this type of pregnancies, in addition to poor perception of sexuality and macho approach to contraceptive methods.
“[…] 13.4% of adolescents were pregnant or mothers in 2017."
“165,488 adolescents between 15 and 17 years old became mothers from 2011 to 2017, while a 44.65% of adolescents are mothers or pregnant for the first time, they were in primary education, the Endes revealed. Pregnancy in adolescents aged 15 to 19 increased from 12.7% (2016) to 13.4% and 16.9% of adolescents aged 15 to 19, were pregnant.
The academic opportunities of women are reduced, since this factor contributes to 25.3% school dropout (INEI-Endes, 2015);which contributes to increasing the economic autonomy gap between men and women. The most affected sectors are those located east of the country, highlighting departments of the Peruvian jungle.
] .
Sexually transmitted diseases and infections:
They are generally transmitted by having unprotected sex, although in the case of HIV/AIDS, it could be due to blood transfusions or directly pass the mother to the child at the time of childbirth.
The most common infections or diseases in Peru are: HIV/AIDS, syphilis, cervical papillom.
In Peru, where sexuality is still a taboo subject, the negative connotation of leading an active sexual life is just being removed, so there is ignorance about preventive measures, which becomes a barrier -contraceptive methods and some oral administration.
REFERENCES:
- · University of Chile. (2017). “Sexual Education Program: Definition of abortion." [online]. Available in [last consultation: October 22, 2019].
- · Dieguez, G. (2014) "Peru debate the decriminalization of abortion in case of rape" [online]. Available in [last consultation: October 28, 2019].
- · Urrutia, to. (s.f) "Abortion in Peru" [online]. Available in [last consultation: October 28, 2019].
- · Sausa, M. (2018) "85% of schoolchildren learn about sexuality through the Internet" [online]. Available in [last consultation: October 30, 2019].
- Catholics for the right to decide. (2015) "Situation of integral sex education in Peru" [online]. Available in < https://www.cddperu.org/es/informacion/hoja-informativa/situaci%C3%B3n-de-la-educaci%C3%B3n-sexual-integral-en-el-per%C3%BA> [last consultation: October 30, 2019].
- · The Republic. (2018). "The State invests S/ 1 in prevention of teenage pregnancy" [online]. Available in [last consultation: November 2, 2019].
- · Ministry of Health. (2014). “Teen pregnancy prevention campaign:‘ Protect your moments, a pregnancy changes everything ’” [online]. Available in [last consultation: November 2, 2019].
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