Monde* was a 16-year-old school girl from Libingi village, some 10 to 15 kilometers from Nangweshi, western Zambia. She became pregnant by an older man who took her out one night in Senanga when she was attending a school netball competition. Her family became aware of her pregnancy in the new year when she was about six months pregnant; consequently she was not allowed to go back to school.
She was brought to the antenatal clinic at Nangweshi Health Centre by her mother when she was some seven months. She was not feeling well and told the midwives in the clinic that she had a sore on her vulva. When the midwives examined her that found she had a fever, vaginal discharge and a large ulcer on her left labia.
She was admitted to the ward and received antibiotics and anti-malarials. She seemed to improve and was allowed to go home to complete her medicines. What the nurses did not know was that family members had attempted to terminate the pregnancy in the village using traditional medicine.
Two days later, Monde was brought back to the clinic. She was very ill; she had a high fever and was not fully conscious. At this point, the attending nurse specifically enquired whether any interference with the pregnancy had taken place. The nurse was told by Monde’s mother that family members had attempted to abort the pregnancy.
Early next morning, Monde was found unconscious in the toilet where she had delivered a stillborn, one kilogram foetus. The 16-year-old died shortly afterwards.
*The names in this article have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.