Question

A 25 year old unmarried female reports having a positive home pregnancy test and estimates that it has been approximately twelve weeks since her last menstrual period. She and her family work in the agricultural industry and much of her time is spent in the greenhouse or in the fields, where she uses pesticides and fertilizers. This individual is 5’7 and weighs 165lbs; blood pressure is 140/80 mmHg. She has a family history of diabetes and pre eclampsia. She holds a guest worker (H2A) visa for the state of Florida and has health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. She reported her pregnancy to her supervisor and asked to be moved to another area of the farm, away from the use of chemicals. Her supervisor refused to relocate her, indicating he had no other openings on the farm. She is a devout Muslim who has declined to inform the potential father, a devout Catholic, of the pregnancy. No other members of her family (her mother, father and younger sister) are aware of her condition.

1. What social challenges does this individual face?

2.What are her religious obligations in regards to her pregnancy and does she have a moral obligation to notify the potential father?

3. If the pregnancy is unwanted, what choices does she have?

4. What areas of social support might she access?

Answer 1

Answer 1: In this scenario, the pregnant mother faces many social challenges due to pregnancy. Some of the problems she faces are she isn’t a having permanent visa, she is under guest worker visa. She cannot be moved to another work place because of no vacancy, she is exposed to many chemicals in her work place. Her health insurance scheme under Affordable Care Act covers only minimum health care coverage.

Answer 2: As a Muslim, to be pregnant and unmarried is the worst situation to be in. Such girls are often shunned by society, talked about in a bad way and are considered to have brought ‘shame’ on their family. Her religious obligations in regards to her pregnancy are, it can bring into society many major problems such as illegitimate children, spread of disease, increase in divorce rate, spread of crime, children not being brought up or cared for properly and ultimately the breakdown of the family unit. In some instances some Muslim girls are killed for getting themselves in such a shameful situation, in so-called ‘honour killings’ which have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam.