By Chioma Umeha
To mark the world contraception day on Tuesday,
a non-governmental organisation, Development Communications (DEVCOMS), has
revealed that about 46 million abortions are performed in Nigeria every year.
In a release, DEVCOMS explained that unplanned
pregnancies can have huge impact on the individuals, as well as, their
partners’ lives, hence the need to use contraceptives as protection.
“Sex can be fun, pleasurable, and fulfilling
part of life, but without protection, it can lead to Sexually Transmitted
Infections (STI) and unplanned pregnancies,” the statement said.
It added that contraception prevents unsafe
abortion, which has
become a persistent, preventable pandemic and remains one of the most neglected
sexual and reproductive health problems in the world today.
According to National Demographic Health Survey 2013, the prevalence
rate for contraceptive use in Nigeria is only 15 per cent. “This is very low in
spite of the high rate of sexual activity and widespread awareness of the
various contraceptive methods among Nigerian men, women, adolescent and
youths”, the survey stated.
Ikeoluwa Otudeko, Head of Programmes for
Devcoms, called for increase in sexual and reproductive health education,
information on the various methods of contraception, interpersonal/peer-to-peer
communication and improvements in healthcare services delivery.
However, in order to prevent abortion, and other
maternal health complications, Mrs. Charity Ibeawuchi, Nigerian Urban
Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) Senior Technical Advisor on Advocacy,
urged increased uptake of modern family planning methods.
Ibeawuchi said: “Family planning plays a major
role in improving maternal, new-born and child health. Family planning helps to
avoid the proven challenges women face in pregnancy/ child birth when they are
too young and too old in age and/or when pregnancies are too close and too
many.
“Successful family planning programmes improve
quality of life whilst significantly contributing to demographic dividends and
national development.
“Presently, of utmost importance is the need for
adequate information to correct some of the myths and misconceptions and break
barriers surrounding contraceptive use in Nigeria, most especially with the
high rate of teenage pregnancies.”
Speaking on 2017 WCD theme, which is: It’s your life, it’s your future,
know your body,” Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary, Youth
Empowerment Foundation, tasked teenagers, women and youths to take
responsibility for their sexual and reproductive health.
