A Story from RSA Volunteer Using the Pen Name “Sudtang”
The news of an abandoned infant being dragged and gnawed by a dog, left in a basin or trash can, is likely to sadden many. The first thing the news often headlines is the term “heartless mother.” What’s strange is that the person accused of being cruel is always the “woman,” but these incidents never seem to reference the “man” who caused the woman to become pregnant.
Thai society often views pregnancy prevention as a woman’s responsibility, even though we have effective prevention technology for men, namely condoms. However, teenage girls carrying condoms are viewed as promiscuous. In many cases, men persuade women by promising to take responsibility, but intentionally or unintentionally, when the woman becomes pregnant, she is often left to face the problem alone. The inability to find a solution leads to stress, depression, especially among teenagers who cannot tell their families for fear of disappointing them. Some consider suicide, drop out of the education system, lose their future, and many undergo unsafe abortions, which can be life-threatening.
We, as members of the RSA network, have had the opportunity to coordinate and assist women with unplanned pregnancies to access safe health services. This experience has shown us many women who find themselves at a dead end, contemplating suicide, not wanting to live, and trying to find solutions in various ways.
From September to mid-October 2019, about a month and a half, we coordinated assistance for 17 women with unplanned pregnancies. Among them was one teenage student under 20 years old and another out-of-system student. The rest were working-age women with families, most of whom already had 2-3 children. However, the unpreparedness stemmed from family problems, economic issues, social problems, husbands addicted to gambling, unemployed, addicted to kratom or other substances, and domestic violence.
These women came to talk and consult with us, physically and emotionally battered, with visible bruises on their arms, sadness, and tears as they shared their stories. Upon deeper conversation, some women had become pregnant as early as their second year of high school, forced to marry the man they were pregnant with due to adult decisions. After having 2-3 children together, the problems intensified. The children born had little educational opportunity, growing up amidst parental violence or quarrels, or in many cases, the parents separated, leaving the mother to care for the children alone.
We think that these women are somewhat fortunate to still have access to the safe pregnancy termination referral system within the RSA volunteer network, supported by medical teams and multidisciplinary professionals. When deciding to terminate the pregnancy, they can use the e-claim system of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), receive alternative counseling from social workers, nurses, public health officials, or the 1663 hotline, and enter a system with RSA volunteer doctors who care for service recipients across provinces. Additionally, after receiving termination services, they receive semi-permanent contraception.
In follow-up after the service, we met the same woman who came to us that day, feeling hopeless, depressed, and contemplating suicide. But today, she has a relieved, bright face, greets us, and laughs. She thanked us, making us realize that she has become stronger and has hope to live in this world while taking the best care of her child.
The RSA team empowers workers like us, giving us the morale to help service recipients. There is a follow-up system for those with ongoing social problems to find ways to provide further assistance. We thank the RSA volunteer network for making the health system accessible, safe, and convenient. We thank the RSA doctors who volunteer with heart. We are proud to be part of the RSA multidisciplinary volunteer team.