Dozens of pregnant and HIV-positive women have been forced to sterilize hospitals in South Africa. This is apparent from a study by a local Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) into at least 48 complaints. All women had a birth by caesarean section, where the baby is born via the abdominal wall. Sterilization can also be carried out at that location.
Statements from the women showed that they were forced before and sometimes even during labor to sign forms with which they gave permission for sterilization. Hospital workers threatened that they would not help the women until they signed the forms. Some signed without knowing what it was for and what the consequences were.
Depressive complaints
One of the women was seven months pregnant when she was told that she needed caesarean section because she had too high a blood pressure. She signed a form on the assumption that this was for Caesarean section and was sterilized without knowing it. Only years later, after she visited a doctor because she was unable to conceive, did she discover the procedure.
Many of the women have depressive symptoms because they have discovered that they can no longer have children.
Difficult investigation
The sterilization has been enforced in fifteen public hospitals since 2002. The investigation took a long time, because employees tried to hide documents or did not want to cooperate. Some documents were old and already destroyed or not to be found.
The committee wants stricter legislation on sterilization. It is also better to check whether it is being complied with.
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