The United Nations set September 26 as the day to spread awareness about the methods of contraceptives available to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and productive health.
This day aims at raising awareness about contraceptives and safe sex methods.
They believe that every woman and adolescent girl has the right to access contraceptives and family planning services.
The UNFPA estimates that 12 million women have lost access to contraceptives and 1.4 million unintended pregnancies may have occurred during 2020 only across the low middle-income countries.
Thus the theme of this year was “Breaking Myths in Family Planning” which aims at breaking the historically passed beliefs about the use of family planning methods.
Family planning helps to protect teenage girls from any health risks which can occur either during or even after giving birth, ranging from high blood pressure to infections, miscarriages, stillbirths and death.
When a pregnancy is unplanned at that time, it affects the teenage mother's health with may, in turn, affects the health and safety of the unborn child.
The use of contraceptives greatly reduces the risks of infant deaths or teen mothers' death and unwanted pregnancies.
Proper use and consistency for both male and female condoms protect both individuals from unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDs.
Family planning can help couples space and plan their pregnancies which will build financial security and allow them to raise and care properly for a healthy family.
The government should come up with programmes and campaigns that will aid in educating the general public on the importance of using family planning methods.
Our learning institutions must be at the forefront in starting educative programmes on family planning and safe sex.
Student at Rongo University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
