Single mother married off at 12 raises 38 children
When the world first learned about Mariam Nabatanzi, a woman from Uganda who is raising 38 children, there were many questions. Some worried about her ability to take care of the children, while others wanted to know how she came to be married off so young in the first place.
Mariam Nabatanzi, a Ugandan mother of 38, made international headlines early in 2017. Mariam has 38 children ranging between 23 years and 11 months in age.
She provides for them by doing odd jobs.
VIDEO: The story of a 39-year-old Ugandan woman who has given birth to 38 children. pic.twitter.com/zXIYB3h9v2
— STORYTELD (@STORYTELD) May 30, 2017
Mariam was married off to a much older man at the young age of 12, and suffered abuse at his hands for many years. While all 38 of her children are fathered by this one man, he is an absent father.
Mariam tried desperately to curb the birth of so many children, but various birth methods including injections and IUDs have not worked for her. This may be due to the rare condition that she is diagnosed with: hyperovulation.
This may be due to the rare condition that she is diagnosed with: hyperovulation. The condition means that each time Mariam falls pregnant, multiple eggs are fertilised. This is why she has twins, triplets and even quadruplets among her children.
At the time of the story, Mariam believed that her children were more of a blessing than a burden.
While children are most certainly a blessing, they are also a great responsibility. That responsibility is made almost impossible in situations like Mariam's, where finances are tight and access to advanced healthcare is difficult.
There has not been much reported about Mariam since international interest in her story died down in the second half of 2017.
We can only hope that the doctor who was able to deliver her youngest child by Caesarean section was able to provide some sort of intervention.