Fatoumata Z Coulibaly | October 25, 2024
News Brief
In Banakoroni, Mali, Adiara Fofana Dembélé relaxes while her husband, Aboubacar, tends to the household chores for the family, which now includes two children. The couple faced the pain of miscarriage in 2023 but overcame the challenges and stigma together. Mrs. Dembélé says, "In our community, people think that losing a pregnancy is a curse." Together, they advocate for awareness, challenging harmful myths, and promoting understanding of the real causes of miscarriage. Support is vital in the healing process.
On a warm afternoon in Banakoroni, a town 15 km from Ségou, south-central Mali, Adiara Fofana Dembélé relaxes in the shade of her home. Beside her, her husband, Aboubacar Dembélé, tends to household chores. The couple experienced a miscarriage in 2023, but, Mrs. Dembélé says, “thanks to my husband’s support, we overcame the challenges together.”
The woman in her twenties is now a mother of two and enjoys a peaceful life with her husband. But, myths and taboos surrounding miscarriage led to Mrs. Dembélé experiencing marginalization. She says, “In our community, people think that losing a pregnancy is a curse caused by not respecting certain customs.” Mrs. Dembélé adds, “In addition to the pain and disappointment, I suffered from the judgment of some people.”
In Ségou, some communities mistakenly attribute pregnancy loss to illegal abortions in youth or to the failure to adhere to certain traditions. Mrs. Dembélé says, “According to tradition, a pregnant woman should not leave her yard at dusk, bathe late at night, or carry heavy loads, as these actions could invite curses.”
However, after consultations, the health worker concluded that Mrs. Dembélé’s miscarriage was caused by an untreated sexually transmitted infection. He educated the couple about the actual causes of miscarriage, helping them realize that it was not linked to the traditional beliefs they had been raised with.
Mariam Dakouo is a midwife and specialist in sexual and reproductive health at Population Services International in Ségou. She explains that a miscarriage is the spontaneous or induced termination of a pregnancy before term, typically occurring before the third month of pregnancy. She notes that late miscarriages can happen between the third and fifth months. Mrs. Dakouo emphasizes that any vaginal bleeding early in pregnancy, whether light or heavy, may be a sign of miscarriage and advises seeking medical assistance as soon as possible.
Mrs. Dakouo views the myths surrounding miscarriage in Ségou’s communities as unfounded. She highlights that actual causes of miscarriage include factors such as parental age, smoking and alcohol consumption, chromosomal and embryonic abnormalities, untreated bacterial infections, and other medical conditions.
Mrs. Dakouo estimates that miscarriages affect approximately 15 to 20% of pregnancies, according to health statistics. She emphasizes the importance of society recognizing that pregnancy loss can occur at any stage and recommends providing psychological support for couples following a miscarriage. She says, “The man must support his wife through the treatment because a pregnancy loss is heavy to bear psychologically.”
Mr. Dembélé refused to abandon his wife during the miscarriage despite family pressure. He explains, “People thought it was a curse. They advised me to leave my wife, but I refused.” He continued to support his wife by accompanying her to her medical appointments. Mr. Dembélé believes that miscarriages are a taboo subject in society, heavily influenced by myths, beliefs, and unfounded ideas. He says, “These beliefs are harmful to our society. We should not blame a woman who has had a miscarriage.”
Mrs. Dembélé shares that she has found recovery through both treatment and her husband’s support. She says, “I have come to understand that these traditional beliefs about pregnancy loss are not valid.” Today, she actively raises awareness among the women in her community about these myths, drawing on both the doctor’s advice and her own personal experience.
This resource was produced through the “HÉRÈ – Women’s Well-Being in Mali” initiative, which aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health well-being of women and girls and to strengthen the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, and the district of Bamako in Mali. The project is implemented by the HÉRÈ – MSI Mali Consortium, in partnership with Farm Radio International (RRI) and Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) with funding from Global Affairs Canada.