Communities Shun Misconceptions To Embrace Family Planning
A family planning clinic at LHS Nanyuki last week became a big success following a large turnout in the number of women seeking the service.
A total of 47 women turned up for the joint quarterly exercise between LHS Nanyuki and Marie Stopes Clinic on Tuesday, more than double the figure is last seen in a similar exercise in November.
The steep rise in the turn-up is attributed to the sustained health education by staff at LHS Nanyuki, as Spelanza Wahome, a nurser at the facility explains.
We are beginning to see the impact of the collective efforts by the hospital staff in encouraging mothers to take matters family planning seriously.
the Maternal and Child Health Clinic nurse explains. There is a significant level of educative engagements for mothers throughout the pregnancy journey, with this consistency being extended to the post-natal clinic programs. The outpatient unit has played a significant role in this.
A majority of beneficiaries cited the prevailing economic hardships as the reason for desiring planned families. Lorna, 24 years old beneficiary from Matanya, said family planning is inevitable in modern-day life.
As a couple, we agreed on the need for us to have a plan. We have to take charge of our future.
Lorna, who opted for a three-year implant said.
Over the recent past, there has been a steady growth in the number of women seeking family planning services in LHS Nanyuki. In addition to the health education efforts, staff members think is a result of spouses embracing the convenience of small, manageable families.
Availability or reliable information is replacing some long-held beliefs and misconceptions surrounding the issue, boosting the uptake of the services.
A notable shift in perception of family planning is also at play in the LHS Nanyuki community, as more spouses agree among themselves to go into the plans. For healthcare practitioners, this is a significant shift from the previous experiences where women would secretly go into family planning for fear of their spouse's reaction.
This is seen as a positive development as more people will seek services openly, widening the reach and outcomes. This will help reduce cases of domestic disagreements that arise as a result of women seeking the service in a discreet manner.
Last week's clinic, for instance, witnessed the first-ever couple coming together in search of the service. Following an educative session, the couple took time to deliberate on what option best suits their needs before settling on one.
Even with sustained health education on the available options, health providers still believe there is significant peer influence when it comes to the choices of plans women make. Continuous education will bring about better understanding, and therefore better shape the choice individuals make.
As to the role of men in the whole family planning discussion, it appears that a lot has to be done to persuade men to play their part. The notion that family planning is a woman's job is rife in the communities.
Any discussion touching on vasectomy, for instance, is treated with contempt, and draws religious and cultural interpretations to justify the immorality of the practice.
