The Paradox of Unwanted Pregnancy

On Sunday, August 27, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the Izzi community of Ebonyi State. A 20-year-old young woman, Nwaedoka Chidimma, allegedly abandoned her newborn son in a pit toilet shortly after delivery. Two days later, on August 29, residents heard the baby’s cries and rescued him. The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, immediately intervened, ensuring the child was taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for urgent treatment. Sadly, despite efforts to save him, the baby passed away the following day.  

A resident, Esther, recounted that Chidimma had secured a farm job in the community while pregnant. During work, she excused herself to use the toilet and returned bleeding heavily—an ominous sign of what had transpired.  

This heartbreaking case highlights the devastating consequences of pregnancies outside marriage. While it is difficult to imagine a married woman committing such an act, the question remains: what drives a young woman to such extremes? Possible factors include:  

- Poor parental upbringing  

- Societal neglect  

- Truancy and waywardness  

- Poverty  

- Ignorance and youthful exuberance  

Let us examine these causes more closely.  

 Poor Parental Upbringing 

Some parents bring children into the world without the means or willingness to nurture them. These children are left vulnerable, often forced into child labor such as hawking on the streets. In such environments, predatory men exploit their innocence, leading to pregnancies the girls neither planned nor understood.  

Societal and Family Neglect 

Families and governments alike bear responsibility for protecting vulnerable children. Stronger laws and enforcement—such as removing underage children from the streets during school hours—could reduce the risk of molestation and exploitation. Neglect at both family and societal levels leaves young girls exposed to dangers that can alter their lives forever.  

Truancy and Waywardness 

Children deprived of care and guidance often seek survival in unsafe ways. Girls in particular may fall prey to manipulative men who exploit their desperation, resulting in pregnancies they are ill-prepared to handle.  

Poverty

Economic hardship drives many parents to send their daughters into menial labor as housemaids or sales girls. Unfortunately, these roles often expose them to abuse, trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Many of these girls become victims of sex slavery, and when pregnancies occur, they are pressured into abortion or abandonment to escape societal stigma.  

Ignorance and Youthful Exuberance

Exposure to unfiltered media and social platforms can mislead young girls into reckless behavior. Curiosity, peer pressure, and misinformation often culminate in unwanted pregnancies. Regulation of harmful content and proper guidance are essential to safeguard their innocence.  

In the case of Nwaedoka Chidimma, it is likely that fear of societal stigma—bearing a child out of wedlock or for a man unwilling to accept responsibility—drove her to commit such a desperate act.  

Yet, all hope is not lost. For young women facing similar circumstances, there are alternatives. Instead of ending the life of an innocent child, they can seek safe havens where babies may be cared for by those willing to help.  

Sexual intimacy should be reserved for marriage, where responsibility and support are assured. No pregnancy should ever be deemed “unwanted,” for every life begins at conception and carries immense potential. The child aborted or abandoned today could have been a future leader, innovator, or contributor to humanity’s progress.  

Let us protect life. Let us protect dignity. Let us protect the future.