The family planning song Get it Together by Paul
‘P Square’ Okoye and Tiwa Savage, is a creative piece for a campaign
by the Nigerian urban reproductive health initiative (NURHI). Its tagline is; ‘KNOW
about Family Planning’, ‘TALK about Family Planning’ and ‘GO for Family Planning’.
The song describes someone who uses family planning as “Man/Woman wey sabi”.
This means a person who understands that modern family planning methods are
safe, available and effective, and is willing to share the correct facts about
family planning.
Family planning was designed to allow individuals
and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the
spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive
methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.
A woman’s
ability to space and limit her pregnancies has a direct impact on her health
and well-being as well as on the outcome of each pregnancy. This is because most
complications of pregnancy occur in women who have had 5 or more children
(known as grand multiparous women).
According to the California
Department of Health Services Office of Family Planning, family planning
reduces the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions among women, and
allows women the opportunity to choose when the time is right to have a child. An
unplanned pregnancy is likely to be unwanted.
After
the delivery of a child, a woman who is not exclusively breastfeeding may
become pregnant again after as few as four to six weeks. This is because breast
feeding tends to inhibit ovulation (egg release) in women. Some methods of
birth control can be started immediately following the birth, while others
require a delay of up to six months. By lengthening the time between
pregnancies, birth control can improve adult women's delivery outcomes and the
survival of their children.
There
are some basic facts about family planning, they include:
·
Family
Planning is voluntary and is based on informed decision.
·
Modern
family planning methods are safe and effective to use.
·
There
is a method that is right for everyone.
·
The
best method is the one that suits you.
·
Family
Planning is for everyone, including young couples.
What
are the benefits you can get from family planning?
- It
helps the family manage its available resources so the children can grow
healthy and be educated well.
- it
helps the mother and child to stay healthy
- The
woman has more time for herself, children and husband.
- There
is less worry for the man as he is likely to be able to provide for
the family needs.
Birth
control methods include
·
Barrier methods
They include male condoms,
female condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges with spermicide.
These methods prevent sperm from entering the womb.
·
Hormonal birth control,
This method uses hormones to suppress ovulation. They include
the pills, implants, and injectables. Some implants can last for 3 years (implanon)
and some for 5 years (jadelle).
·
Intrauterine devices (IUDs),
This method involves
insertion of devices like the copper-T into the uterus, to kill sperm. A disadvantage
of this method is the high risk of infection and the heavy menstrual bleeding
associated with it. Couples who are not faithful to each other should avoid
this method.
·
Sterilization,
This method involves tying
the fallopian tube in females and the vas deferens in males. It is considered
irreversible, though it can be reversed with a high probability of failure. Tying
the tubes decreases the risk of ovarian cancer in women.
·
Emergency contraceptives (effective for up to
a few days after sex).
The
most effective methods are those that are long acting and do not require
ongoing health care visits. Visit a family planning clinic to know more about
the different methods.
There
are a number of common misconceptions regarding sex and pregnancy:
·
Douching after sexual intercourse is not an effective
form of birth control.
·
Women can become pregnant the first time they
have sexual intercourse and in any sexual position.
September
26 is World Contraception Day, devoted to raising awareness and improving
education about sexual and reproductive health, with a vision of a world where every pregnancy is wanted.
Some
religions do not like contraception. Some of them teach that contraception is a
sin.
Religions
ideas about contraception:
- Catholicism – Natural Family Planning and abstinence are allowed.
- Protestantism – most Protestant churches
believe birth control is not a sin.
- Islam – most believe that some methods
of birth control are not sin. This is not applicable to sterilization,
birth control due to financial hardship, or methods that deprive a woman
of her right to sexual satisfaction.
- Judaism – there are different beliefs in
Judaism about birth control, but even the most conservative types of
Judaism allow it if the woman will get sick if she gets pregnant.
The side effects of hormonal birth control may stand
out as a disadvantage for some women. While many women regularly use
contraception without experiencing side effects, complications can and do
occur. The most common side effects associated with hormonal contraception
include weight gain, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Less common but more
serious side effects include stroke, blood clots and ectopic pregnancy
(especially with intrauterine devices). However, it must be emphasized that these
complications are very rare, however your healthcare provider should be informed
if/when they occur.
Visit the family planning clinic closest to you
(usually in government hospitals like teaching hospitals and general hospitals
in Nigeria, where these services are offered for free).
Get it together! plan am well! Be the person wey sabi!
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