The benefits of family planning
Family planning is a sexual and reproductive health strategy to help individuals and couples plan effectively for their families.
According to the United Nations’ directing and coordinating arm for health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), family planning allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. This is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods.
It is the time in a couple’s life when they choose how many children they wish to have, how close in age those children will be, and what method of fertility control to use to prevent pregnancy. So, when you and your partner reach that point in your relationship where you plan on having a baby, the following benefits should have already been considered, discussed and concrete decisions reached.
The WHO attributes family planning to successes in pregnancy prevention, reduction in infant mortality, HIV/AIDS prevention, the empowerment of individuals, and increased opportunities to pursue education and reduced numbers of adolescent pregnancies.
A woman’s ability to choose if and when to become pregnant has a direct impact on her health and general well-being. Family planning allows spacing of pregnancies and can delay pregnancies in young women who are at an increased risk of health problems and death from early childbearing. The use of an appropriate contraceptive method can prevent pregnancies among older women who are late in their childbearing years as they and their foetuses would also face increased risks. Family planning enables women who wish to limit the size of their families to do so.
Evidence suggests that women who have more than four children are at an increased risk of maternal mortality. By reducing rates of unintended pregnancies, family planning also reduces the need for couples to seek unsafe abortions.
Yet another benefit of family planning is its ability to prevent closely spaced and ill-timed pregnancies and births, which contribute to some of the world’s highest infant mortality rates. Infants of mothers who die as a result of giving birth also have a greater risk of poor health and death.
Reducing the risk of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV, resulting in fewer infected babies and orphans, is a significant benefit to be seized by couples through the practice of contraceptive use and family planning. It should be noted that in addition, male and female condoms provide dual protection against unintended pregnancies and against STIs including HIV.
The ability to make informed choices about one’s sexual and reproductive health is empowering. Worldwide, family planning represents an opportunity for enhanced education and participation in public life by women, including paid employment in non-family organisations. Additionally, by having smaller families it allows parents to invest more in each child. Among the benefits that redound to the child are that with fewer siblings, they have the opportunity to stay in school longer than those with many siblings.
Family planning has been proven to reduce adolescent pregnancies. The adverse effect of a pregnancy on the fortunes of an adolescent are significant and invariably affect their life chances. Medically, pregnant adolescents are more likely to have preterm or low birth-weight babies. Additionally, babies born to adolescents have higher rates of neonatal mortality. As far as the pregnant adolescent girls concerned she has to interrupt her schooling. This has long-term implications for her as an individual, her family and her community.
In making decisions about family planning, take into consideration your health and the health of your partner. Caring for children is a demanding responsibility, and children count on parents for love, support and care. When it comes to planning a family, it’s a joint decision between spouses or shall we say, a partnership. This is why an important tip to keep in mind is to make informed decisions together, based on both of your needs. It’s important to facilitate open lines of communication and to consider one another’s feelings when making these choices.
Another very important tip when planning your family is to be sure you are financially stable and prepared for children. It gets expensive to provide children with all of the proper things they need throughout life. It is important to factor in medical expenses, clothing, increased demands for money, diapers, toys, and other necessities and accessories that children require and enjoy. Children also take up significant extra space in your home, so you should keep in mind that you may need more bedroom and bathroom space, living space and yard space, as children love to play outdoors.
Family planning demands maturity and acceptance of responsibility. If you feel overwhelmed, it would be helpful to seek assistance from a counsellor who has the skills to guide you. These counsellors can take you through the entire family planning process, from the various contraceptive options that are available to communicating better and respecting each other’s desires and thoughts on family planning.
