Family planning: A stitch in time saves lives

By Sola Ogundipe

WHEN Gloria Ileka, a mother of three, discussed with Paul, her husband, about adopting a suitable family planning method, he rejected the idea outright. Paul’s argument was on the basis that family planning commodities are known to have undesirable side effects, especially for the woman. Although he explained readiness to father more children, Paul, however, said that any form of family planning was ruled out. But 31-year old Gloria, who hails from Delta State was undeterred. After three pregnancies that produced three healthy children, she was done with childbearing and was determined to adopt a family planning method.

Gloria’s first child is 6, the second 3, and the last born is six months old. “For years, I have been hearing about family planning commodities and the benefits, and I decided to try it out after I had three children. I knew the advantages of spacing births,” she disclosed to Good Health Weekly. Gloria who spoke recently during the Antenatal Care, ANC, visit held at the Orisunmibare Primary Health Centre, in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, was concerned about unwanted pregnancy. “I discussed with my husband who wanted nothing to do with it. But because I’m concerned about unwanted pregnancy, I decided to go for family planning without telling him. FAMILY PLANNING:- Chief Nursing Officer, Orisumibare PHC, Alimosho, LGA, Lagos, explaining a point to women during a demonstration of family planning commodities to women attending Antenatal care at the centre.

“After making detailed enquiries, I chose an implant method. I found it convenient and effective, so I decided to go for it . I have been using it for years without any problem. It gives three years protection. My husband doesn’t even know I’m on contraception. It is good for me because it works for me,” she commented.

Need for consent

However, another woman who also adopted a family planning method without her husband’s consent, did not get off as lightly. Narrating the experience, the Chief Nursing Officer, Orisumbamire PHC, Mrs. Folake Mulikat Giwa, said she had to intervene to save the woman’s marriage.

“Recently, a woman came to me at the centre. She was on Jadel that was put in March 2015. I was surprised when she came to complain that her husband absconded from home for over three weeks because she had consented to family planning without telling him.” The woman in question, Giwa stated, had four children, three girls and a boy, but the woman’s spouse was insisting on having more children. “Apparently, she had adopted the family planning method because she did not want to go through the ordeal of unplanned pregnancy, so she had the procedure done without her husband’s permission. “But when he saw the scar of the procedure on her arm, he took offense. He promptly abandoned his home and family as a result. “Whenever the children called on him, he would tell them to ask their mother what she put in her body, because it was that ‘thing’ she put in her body that drove him out of the home. “So the woman became afraid, and in desperation to get her husband back and to save her home, she came back to the centre to request for removal of the implant. “I agreed to remove the implant, but warned of the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. After much counselling, she agreed to switch to Depo-Provera,an injectable form of family planning commodity in exchange. She went home happy and reunited with her husband and family,”she explained. Stories like these are only a tip of the overwhelming evidence that supports association between attitudes toward family planning and the use of contraceptive methods.
Commitment for action
Even though Nigeria has committed to taking action to improve equity and access to family planning for millions of women on the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder, through various approaches including promoting policy formulation and actions that support maternal and child health at all levels, partnering with the private sector, civil society, engaging traditional and religious institutions and development partners. A UNFPA-sponsored survey on Population and Maternal Health, MPMH, carried out in Lagos, at selected Primary Healthcare Centres in the six Local Council Development Areas in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State was a revelation. End-users, community and religious leaders as well as care providers at the centres provides relevant information on access and use of family planning commodities and maternal health challenges and contribution to safe motherhood. At the Meiran Primary Health Centre in Agbado OkeOdo LCDA, Apex Nurse, Mrs. Olusola Akinboto said the centre, records an average of 50-60 antenatal patients daily because of its 24 hour service delivery. Commodities mostly stocked at the two centres include male and female condoms, IUCD, injectable, pills and Norplant. It was gathered that injectables are most sought after because they allow the women to have control and privacy over their lives without the knowledge of their spouses.

Discouraging early marriages

An interesting discovery was that women that agreed with statements supporting girls’ education and discouraging early marriage were more likely than women who disagreed to the use of contraception. Contraceptive practice is more common among men that have been exposed to family planning information and education especially through the media than among those who were not. In separate chats, Giwa and Akinbo, said clients demand for family planning commodities is on the increase. Daily, on the average, both centres attend to about 50-60 clients each, that request services for family planning among others. According to Giwa: “It is still the women that benefit mostly because when they have the unwanted pregnancy, the husband does not want to get involved and shirk responsibility. It is at that time they realise they do not want more children, yet they quarrel with the women if they refuse to engage in sex. “My message to all women is to be aware. After delivery they should come down to the family planning clinic and get the suitable commodities so they can plan for themselves and the community so they don’t lose their lives by undergoing abortion because of unwanted pregnancy or even committing suicide because by the time the burden is too much on their necks, they may collapse.”