PSI

The story of Awa

MY NAME IS AWA SANGARE.* I’m 21 years old, and I live in Bamako, Mali, with my husband and our two young children.

I grew up in Bamako with four siblings. My parents provided for us as well as they could, but life was very difficult. When I was in third grade, my uncle insisted that I quit my studies to help care for the home. It was then that I was forced to abandon my education.

I work as a hairdresser, braiding hair for women in my community. I earn about US $40 a month and combined with my husband’s wage as a land surveyor, we care for my children and my aging mother.

Life is difficult, and I want to better provide for my children. I want to wait before having more children, but my husband won’t allow me to use contraception.

Recently, when I took my youngest child to the clinic for immunizations, I met midwives trained by PSI who were talking about new family planning options that would protect me from getting pregnant for a long time. I had heard about pills and injectable birth control before, but they were always too expensive. The midwives at the clinic said they were offering an implant that would protect me from becoming pregnant for up to five years for free.

I made plans to return and get an implant while my husband was away.

I’m happy with my decision, even though I know my husband would be angry if he found out – he might hit me, divorce me or make me remove it if he found out. But it’s worth the risk – it’s for my children. In a few years, I’ll remove my implant and have more children, but right now I need to focus on my hairdressing business and providing for my two babies.

I want a better life for my children. I dream of them completing school one day and getting good jobs. For myself, I just hope for good health and a peaceful, quiet life. If I space my pregnancies, I feel it may be possible.

*Name changed to protect her identity.

Related content by category
Country: Mali, Africa - Western and Central
Health Areas: Reproductive Health