Group calls for Collaboration To Address Family Planning Misconceptions
By Segun Adegoke, Osogbo
A reproductive health solutions group, The Challenge Initiative (TCI), has called for collaboration among stakeholders to address misconceptions about family planning methods in Nigeria.
The group in partnership with Osun State Ministry of Health, made the call on Friday at a Media Round Table in Osogbo to commemorate 2024 International Girl Child Day and International Adolescent Health Week.
Adebusola Oyeyemi, TCI Manager for Osun State, said the group’s approach of unusual business model was aimed at promoting family planning through collaborative efforts with state governments in Nigeria.
Oyeyemi, represented by Funso Daniel, explained that family planning and reproductive health were matters to be taken seriously by couples within the child bearing age.
She said methods available help prevent reproductive health complications like high-risk pregnancies and unsafe abortions while ensuring adequate birth spacing and optimum maternal and child health.
“Family planning is the informed decision taken by individuals and couples on the number of children they want to have. It is critical for every family that wants to live a healthy, happy and economically viable life.
“The benefits of family planning in helping to reduce maternal and child mortality in the country can be deduced from its methods that aid in preventing high-risk pregnancies and promoting sound health for both mother and child.”
The Family Planning Coordinator for Osun State Ministry of Health, Ololade Abatan, in her presentation said family planning was important for a huge country like Nigeria.
Abatan said the role of family planning was not just to curb population explosion but to help families space their children in such a way as to allow women of child bearing age recover from the strain of childbirth before getting pregnant again.
She said for the various family planning methods available to culminate in happy and healthy families nationwide, myths and misconceptions associated with them must first be debunked.
The Osun FP Coordinator, who highlighted myths and misconceptions such as contraceptives cause infertility, family planning is against religious and cultural values and that condoms reduce pleasure, called for a knowledge based campaign to address them.
She said, “Myths are widely held false beliefs that spring from cultural and historical misinterpretations or lack of understanding about family planning.
“Misconceptions for its own part are incorrect or misinformed understanding of facts about family planning methods. They often spring from fear and stigma associated with family planning methods.”
She explained that misconceptions about family planning spread faster than its time-tested benefits, noting that in the process they discourage community acceptance of contraceptives and create fear of the unknown in the target population.
Abatan then called for support of the media and other stakeholders in addressing those misconceptions in order to improve health outcomes for women and families thereby ensuring healthier communities in Nigeria.
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