Body Autonomy in Nigeria's North
In May, the creative writing club at my university held a meeting. Sex education was listed as a topic for discussion.
The posters announced the topic, time, and venue for the meeting; these were placed at different locations of the Kongo campus, Ahmadu Bello University, and Zaria.
It is common knowledge that anything related to sex is discouraged, and the taboo surrounding it made birth control discussions difficult in the North. Hence, it was not surprising when the posters were taken down.
The meeting was held, much to my surprise, though we were worried that security personnel, whose office was right next to the venue, would come in and end the meeting.
Hindrance
Despite Nigeria being a middle-income country, it has experienced a decline in reproductive health outcomes. Also, Statistics show that access to information on contraceptives and birth control is lesser in Northern Nigeria when compared to other regions. Access to formal education is also low among women in the North, affecting how they receive information on contraception.
Another factor that hinders the usage of contraceptives in the North is poverty. Most northern women are poorer than their southern counterparts, making access to facilities difficult. It would be much easier for a woman who has money to walk into a pharmacy and request drugs to prevent her from getting pregnant.
The right for a person to govern what happens to their body without external influence or coercion is violated when a woman cannot choose how many children she wants to have, when she wants to have them and how far apart they should be.
Birth control is Islamic
Contrary to what is practised and popular opinion, birth control and body autonomy is Islamic. One of the widely accepted arguments for the use of contraceptives in Islam is formulated as a result of the Qur’an’s recommendation to nurse children for two years.
Also, the practice of all(withdrawal method) has been used dating back to medieval times, although it was used primarily on female prisoners and enslaved women. Numerous hadiths speak about their use during the time of the prophet. According to an account by Jabir Abdallah.
"We [the Companions of the Prophet] used to practice ‘all during the time of the Prophet. The Prophet knew about it and allowed it.”
The strongest argument one which focuses more on the bodily autonomy and rights of Muslim women and Birth control’s implicit approval by God lies in the text of one version of the hadith (credited to Abu Hurayra) states, “Do not use ‘all with your wife without her permission.”
The only forms of birth control which are considered haram are unnecessary procedures like the removal of fallopian tubes and vasectomies. This proper stance in Islam should be taught and accepted by northern men and women to reduce the issues of overpopulation and give Arewa women the right to their bodies.