Family Planning

In seminar #5, Yury took us through a few case studies on Reproductive Health and Family Planning. We also went through different scenarios concerning issues of family planning in the developing world, and discussed how we would approach these issues, keeping in mind context and cultural sensitivity. The most interesting message I took away from this seminar is how far-reaching and pervasive the effects of good family planning can reach. Proper contraceptive use, for example, will not only positively affect the health of the mother, but also ensures significant resources available for every family member to thrive. Essentially, proper family planning procedures ensures the health and livelihood of every single family member.

Moreover, proper family planning initiatives enter the realm of tackling social stigmas and cultural perceptions. If contraceptive use is generally frowned upon in a society, couples will be far less likely to use it or seek out alternative options. In addition, if getting an abortion carries a stigma in a society, it is far more likely for women to attempt unsafe self-abortions. These issues are among the multitude that can be addressed in a particular society to try to normalize family planning procedures and educate couples on all of their options.

Finally, another important point addressed by the seminar was the importance of including men in the conversations on family planning. This is an aspect of family planning often overlooked, but it actually quite important. If men are educated on the benefits of proper family planning—especially the impact on the health of their wife—they would be far more likely to agree with complying. Men’s compliance is vital for proper family planning to work successfully, and it is important to address them specifically in family planning initiatives.

For more videos about the impact of family planning please visit: http://www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WalkWithUs_video