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Recorded presentation

Joanne M. Hemmings, BA (hons), MSc¹, Nuala McGrath, PhD², Cellina Kalua², Mia Crampin, Dr², and Doris Banda². (1) Centre for Population Studies, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 49-51 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, United Kingdom, +44 (0) 20 7299 4669, joanne.hemmings@lshtm.ac.uk, (2) Karonga Prevention Study, Box 46, Chilumba, Malawi

Objectives: Rights to motherhood may have different meanings in sub-Saharan Africa from the developed Western countries where such concepts have been developed, but this multiplicity of meanings is rarely considered. This paper examines the problem of infertility from a human rights perspective, and discusses the appropriateness of such a perspective for examining reproductive health. Methods: Qualitative data from 43 life-history interviews with fertile and infertile women in rural northern Malawi were analyzed. Emerging themes were considered in relation to aspects of human rights that have informed global reproductive health policy, in particular, reproductive rights and women's rights. Results: Poverty, gender relations, restricted knowledge, and lack of basic medical services impinged upon women's ability to pursue rights to motherhood. Social and therapeutic responses to infertility and child custodial norms discriminated against motherhood rights, but were not viewed locally in these terms. Women felt a responsibility to have children and did not consider their desire for children in terms of rights to fertility treatment or custodial rights. Rights to children were, however, asserted by the extended family. Conclusions: From a human rights perspective, motherhood rights were jeopordised by numerous factors in this study. However, this perspective may constrain understanding of what motherhood means in Malawi. The individualistic, family-neutral terms that characterise human rights declarations have limited resonance in this setting. Findings highlight the importance of recognising human rights as a product of a particular cultural system, and acknowledging that viewing reproductive health from a human rights perspective can be complex and problematic.

Learning Objectives:

1.Describe how rights and responsibilities are defined in relation to infertility and motherhood in rural northern Malawi
• Recognise that ‘human rights’ are culturally specific constructions, which may have little resonance in certain settings

Keywords: International Reproductive Health, Human Rights

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation