…As TCI affirms need for correct, regular usage

A common testimony from some women in Nigeria who are within the reproductive age bracket is that they shun the use of family planning products and services based on misinformation, mostly dissemination in social circles.

Often investigations of the negative and wrong stories about family planning come from persons that had never used the procedure.

A 32-year-old woman, Madam Grace Coker, who sells rice and beans in the outskirts of Igede, Ikorodu, Lagos, recently clarified that based on such claims, she has not been encouraged to try any available family planning products and services.

Negative stories

Madam Grace, who has been married for 15 years and has five children, is not the only one that has failed to take advantage of family planning services. Her neighbour who sells iced fish popularly known as ‘kote’ and ‘panla’ also has a similar experience: negative stories about family planning products and services have also discouraged her from accessing these products.

However, a recent field trip to the Family Planning Clinic at the Akerele Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Surulere, Lagos has unveiled different testimonials from users of family planning services.

The outreach was facilitated during a two-day Capacity Building and Editorial Workshop on Family Planning Intensification for Stakeholders in Lagos State. The programme organised by DEVCOMS with support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI) was held at the AHI Residence, Jibowu, Lagos from August 8 to 9.

Among other objectives of the training is to sensitise journalists with the TCI Family Planning Intensification Phase plan and also increase media visibility on family planning reportage. TCI is about rapidly and sustainably scaling up proven reproductive health solutions among the urban poor.

The day two activities scheduled the field trip to the Akerele PHC where journalists and other media professionals interacted with clients majorly women who were on ground to access family planning services.

Experiences

When we sought the views of Ms Esther Abah, she disclosed that her experience on the use of family planning has been positive.

Abah said her neighbourhood friend; another female single referred her to seek care at the Akerele PHC FP clinic. The reference came after she had confided in the lady who is also a single mother that she desired to key into family planning to help her avert unintended pregnancy.

Abah said since she adopted the three-month injectable, Depo-Provera, it has been a wonderful experience, considering that her desire to delay conception presently has been successful.

Depo-Provera, a wellknown brand name for medroxyprogesterone acetate, a contraceptive injection that contains the hormone progestin, is given as an injection every three months. It typically suppresses ovulation, keeping ovaries from releasing eggs.

Giving her experience, Abah, who is mother of a six-year old child, said the procedure has helped her to prevent pregnancy and she hasn’t had any side effects to date.

WHO

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), family planning is defined as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of the births.

Another client, who visited the Akerele PHC in the company of her husband, also shared their experience. According to the couple, side effects from the three-month injection administered on the wife initially resulted in irregular menstrual flow.

She was placed on another medicine which also resulted in her menstruation to cease. Both the husband and wife were at the Akerele PHC to complain about that side effect.

In spite of the side effect, the couple stated that they were happy about the outcome of the procedure. Mrs Aniofiok also said that when she started using the family planning, she was on the implant method but had to switch to the injectable method when she experienced some mild discomfort.

According to her, ever since, she has been okay and advises other women to use any key into any method suitable for their bodies, stressing that it will help families adequately plan for and space the number of children they can comfortably cater for.

Misconceptions

In her presentation: ‘Addressing Persistent Myths or Misconceptions in Family Planning’ the Chairman, Interfaith Public Health Advocacy Lagos (IPHAL), Dr. Ajoke Sariyu Ashiru highlighted numerous myths and misconceptions hindering family planning uptake.

Some of the myths and misconceptions in family planning based on traditional, religious and social beliefs in Nigeria include:” I am breastfeeding so I can’t get pregnant; I won’t get pregnant if I douche after sex; I don’t need contraception because we only have sex during ‘safe’ time.

You are only fertile once a month; I won’t get pregnant if my partner pulls out before he ejaculates; I won’t get pregnant because this is my first time having sex; I won’t get pregnant if I take a shower or birth right after sex; among others”.

According to Dr Ashiru the various misconceptions will certainly affect the uptake of family planning in the country. For instance, based on unsafe abortions that may arise from failure to use family planning, maternal, neonatal and child deaths would be recorded.

Besides, the country’s population has been projected to rise to 400 million and above by 2050. Hence, Dr Ashiru urged the media to address the misinformation.

She stated: “The myths and misconceptions on family planning have been consistent for decades with minimal success to reverse the trend.

“There is a need for different stakeholders to collaborate with great involvement in the media so as to remove misconceptions about family planning.”

With regard to tackling other challenges myths and misconceptions p o s e d to family planning uptake, Adesola Fanimokun, D e m a n d Generation, TCI, advised all persons using family planning products to ensure their correct and consistent usage to avoid their failure She also urged women to always return to their providers so as to get expert counselling on managing side effects of the products and services..

According to her, following up with trained providers is the way to go, rather than getting information from untrained persons, a factor that could complicate the situation.

Fanimokun noted that side effects from family planning are normal, just as any other pill considering that they are medicines or products that are foreign to the body. However, over time such side effects would be less severe or ease out completely.

According to information sourced from ‘Family Planning: A Global Handbook For Providers,’ problems with side effects affect women’s satisfaction but they deserve the provider’s attention. “If the client reports side effects or problems, listen to her concerns, give her advice, and support, and, if appropriate, treat.

Make sure she understands the advice and agrees. “Encourage her to keep taking a pill every day even if she has side effects. Missing pills can risk pregnancy and may make some side effects worse.

“Many side effects will subside after a few months of use. For a woman whose side effects persist, providers are advised to give combined oral contraceptive (COC) formulation, if available, for at least three months.”

COC is a tablet that contains two hormones, progestogen and estrogen, and is taken daily to prevent pregnancy. The hormones in the pill work by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).

With regard to irregular bleeding (bleeding at unexpected times that bothers the client), providers should reassure the client that many women using COCs experience irregular bleeding. It is not harmful and usually becomes less or stops after the first few months of use.

Unintended pregnancy

Furthermore, Fanimokun urged women of reproductive age to ensure the uptake of family planning services to help them prevent unintended pregnancy.

The same should be applicable regarding singles that are sexually active. Similarly, experts said the benefits of family planning are crucial in maintaining the well-being of families by enabling individuals to make informed choices about the timing and number of children they wish to have.

In Nigeria, a country rich in diverse cultures and lifestyles, understanding the significance of family planning is paramount. It transcends mere contraception, as it serves to enhance the health and resilience of families.