Family planning often means limiting the number of children as well as spacing them more evenly. Most married couples are informed about family-planning services but they take it for granted. Family planning methods focus on the needs of individuals.
Family planning often means limiting the number of children as well as spacing them more evenly.
Most married couples are informed about family-planning services but they take it for granted. Family planning methods focus on the needs of individuals.
Contraception such as condom use, diaphragm or hormonal contraception, injectable contraceptives are some of the effective family planning methods used in Rwanda.
According to 28-year-old Ernest Kabanda, men usually think family planning is a woman’s call yet the population factor affects society at large.
"Some married men always blame their wives for unwanted pregnancies. If a couple doubts contraceptives in form of pills, why don’t they opt for condoms since they have no side effects,” Kabanda says.
He adds that promoting family planning methods is the way forward in curbing down population growth with its related dangers.
The key to population control ultimately is contraception, not abortion. When safe, easy-to-use contraceptives are available to all sexually active people, abortion should become much less of an issue. Abortion is a crude and dangerous method of birth control, even when legally conducted under medical backing.
For instance, in Rwanda an injectable contraceptive is free of charge at all community health centers.
According to Dr. Jean Nyirinkwaya, an obstetrician and Gynecologist, there is need for extensive sensitization regarding family planning methods.
"Misconceptions about some family planning methods by people have hindered the program. Some women fear to use injectable contraceptives claiming that they could suffer cervical cancer,” Dr. Nyirinkwaya discloses
He further adds that religion should not be dragged into the short comings of family planning methods since its women who tend to discourage one another about the methods.
"It’s a challenge because while people are advocating for family planning methods, others aim at discouraging it,” he expresses.
Within a sexually active society, family planning methods and education on responsible sexuality can be a great deal in curbing population control.