Family planning is a delicate topic here in Nigeria, especially when it concerns a woman. After all, it is a woman who undergoes physical and emotional changes during and after pregnancy. But unfortunately, in a culture like ours, where our family, spouses and society often dictates when a woman should get pregnant and how many children she ought to have, couples often find themselves confused, leading them to have babies when they are not ready, which may or may not work in their favour. But you don’t have to be one of those women who feel helpless about child spacing.

What is more alarming is that, many women are uninformed about family planning methods that exist in the country that can help them to avoid pregnancies. Also many Nigerian couples do not opt for long-term contraception because of the fear of side effects and myths and stories often told by women who have used certain contraceptive methods.

A woman’s ability to choose if and when to become pregnant has a direct impact on her health and well-being. Family planning allows spacing of pregnancies and prevents unintended pregnancies, including those of women who face increased risks related to pregnancy.

Family planning enables women who wish to limit the size of their families to do so and by reducing rates of unintended pregnancies, family planning also reduces the need for unsafe abortion.

Family planning also prevent closely spaced and ill-timed pregnancies and births, which contribute to high infant mortality rates. Babies of mothers who die as a result of giving birth also have a greater risk of death and poor health.

Family planning allows women to pursue additional education and participate in public life, including paid employment. In addition, having less allows parents to invest more in each child.

 

Who provides family planning / contraceptives?
Family planning is widely available and easily accessible in Nigeria through doctors in hospitals and health practitioners at the various family planning clinics around the country.

Visiting your doctor right from the early stages of family planning will go a long way in helping you decide what type of family planning method that you should adopt.

Knowledge is power so it is very important for women to do know the various types of family planning methods available as well their advantages and disadvantages.

So Mamalette take the power in your hands, enlighten yourself and make the right decision.