Definition Of Family Planning
Family planning is the process by which a couple decided on
the number of children that they want, while they use some methods to avoid
pregnancy. The practice of family planning helps couples to have the number of
children they want when they want them.
The World
Health Organization saw family planning as a way of thinking and living that is
adopted voluntarily upon the basis of knowledge, attitudes and responsible
decisions by individuals and couples in order to promote the health and welfare
of the family group, while contributing effectively to the social development
of the country.
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY PLANNING
1. It prevents the incidence of genetically
diseases. It decreases complication of pregnancy and delivery by reducing
pregnancy related stress, as well as emotional and physical stress.
2. The World Health Organization, (1980)
stated that Adequate spacing prevents depletion of material nutritional stores
which can decrease the incidence of premature births.
3. Each family can be more productive if
child bearing is well spaced so that too large family does not deplete family
resources.
4. Each community can adjust more
readily to the demand for health services, education, food supplies, employment
and transportation, if there is adequate and gradual population.
5. International statistics consistently
show a considerable decrease in mortality of mothers and children as a result
of Family Planning.
TYPES
OF FAMILY PLANNING
Family
planning as the name implied means happiness and willingness to choose when
couples should have children. There are numbers of family planning methods
available to prevent pregnancy while allowing couples to enjoy sexual
relationships. Since every couple is different, no single method is best for
every one. There are different types of modern methods of contraception. They
are:
1. The pill or oral contraceptive
2. The injectibles
3. The implants
4. Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD)
5. Diaphragm
6. Foams and foaming tablets
The pill or oral contraceptive- The pill is
temporary contraceptive for women.
Application- Pills are swallowed in dosages,
usually a pill is taken a day for either 21 days or 28 days depending on the
type and number of tables in a pack.
Actions- It contained hormones that stop the
woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs, so that pregnancy cannot occur. The pills
in different hormonal combinations and different strengths are available in
either 28-days-pill packs or 21-days-pill packs.
Advantages:
1. Helps to relieve menstrual cramps and
make periods more regular
2. Helps to protect the user against
ovarian and uterine cancer
3. Pills do not interfere with sexual
pleasure
4. Protect the user against some forms
of pelvic inflammatory diseases, which affect the fallopian tubes, and pelvic
organ that might lead to infertility.
Disadvantages:
1. Pills have to be taken everyday for
effectiveness.
2. It is not the best method for woman
who is breastfeeding, as pills with estrogen and progestin may reduce the
amount of milk that a woman produces.
3. It produces some side effects like:
nausea, dizziness, headache, spotting, and breast tenderness etc.
4. In few cases, pill can cause blood
clot in legs especially in woman smokers who are over 35 years.
THE INJECTIBLES:
There are
two types of injectibles, they are: Depo provera and Noristerat.
Application – a woman gets an injection of Depo
provera every 3 months, while that of Noristerat occur every 2 months.
Injection is usually given at the upper arm or the buttocks.
Action - Injectibles contain hormones that
prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs so that pregnancy cannot occur.
Advantages:
1. injectibles are very easy to use.
2. It does not interfere with sex.
3. Everyone including nursing mothers
can use it.
4. Best for anemic woman at it reduces
menstrual flow.
Disadvantages:
1. Mild headache, weight gain and
dizziness may occur.
2. Light and irregular menstrual flow in
persistent users.
3. Bleeding at unexpected time
especially at the initial period but decreases overtime.
4. Vaginal bleeding may occur after 6 to
12 months of use.
5. Pregnancy may not occur several
months after contraception is stopped.
THE IMPLANTS:
The implant
is another form of temporary contraceptive used by woman.
Application – This method involves inserting some
small capsules containing low dosage hormones like that in the pills into the
skin under the upper arm.
Action – Once the implant is in the blood, it
could stop the ovaries from releasing eggs, making pregnancy impossible to
occur. One implant lasts to at least 5 years.
Advantages
1. It is the most highly effective of
the entire temporary contraceptive.
2. It does not require daily application
3. It does not interfere with sex.
4. It has no estrogen side effects.
5. It does not require any special
preparation before use.
6. Help to prevent ectopic pregnancies.
7. The nursing mother can use it, since
neither the quality nor the quantity of breast milk is affected.
Disadvantages:
1. Only a trained clinician can insert
and remove implants.
2. It cause menstrual irregularity and
spotting which could result in enlargement of the ovaries
3. Weight gained during the first 3
months after insertion.
4. It is associated with symptoms like
headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, nervousness, nausea, acne or skin rash,
change in appetite, hair loss and vaginal discharge.
INTRA UTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES (IUCD):
It is a
temporary contraceptive device.
Application: this form of contraception is made of
plastic or copper ring, wound around plastic material and inserted into a
woman’s uterus. Medical experts or other health experts or other health experts
apply it.
Action – IUCD worked chiefly by preventing
sperm and eggs from meeting it also prevents the sperm from moving through the woman’s
reproductive track and reduces the ability of the sperm to fertilize an egg.
Advantages:
1. IUCD is 95% effective if it is
correctly inserted.
2. It does not require any preparation
before sex.
3. It can be used by all
4. Insertion and removal of IUCD is easy
and quick
5. It can be inserted any time e.g.
immediately after birth or even after induce abortion.
Disadvantages
1. Some users complained of painful and
heavy menstrual flow and spotting between periods.
2. Pelvic inflammatory diseases can
occur and can lead to inferti.ity.
3. Medical procedures including pelvic
examination are needed to insert IUCD.
4. Occasional fainting normally occurs
during insertion procedure.
5. It can cause tissue damage and
bleeding when expelled woman’s uterus.
DIAPHRAGM:
The diaphragm is a flexible rubber used as a temporary
measure to deter conception. The material is softer and narrower than a man’s
pennies.
Application: the cap is coated with either cream
or jelly, folder in half and slid easily up the vagina canal to cover the
cervize before sex.
Action – the diaphragm stops pregnancy by
preventing the sperm from entering into the uterus, as it must have sealed it
up.
Advantages:
1. It does not affect menstrual cycle.
2. There are no side effects from
hormones.
3. It is easily reversible.
4. It can be used anytime and by
anybody.
5. It is inexpensive since one diaphragm
can be used several times, provided it is cleaned and properly stored after
every use.
Disadvantages:
1. It may be difficult to remove as it
can tear off in the course of removal.
2. If device is not inserted on time, it
can interrupt sex.
3. It could cause or increase the risk
of urinary track infection.
4. It can cause irritation to either of
the partners, especially, if device is used several times in a day.
FOAMS AND FOAMING TABLETS
This form of
contraceptives device comes in tablets or creams with the ability to dissolve
after their actions had been exhausted.
Application: foams are inserted in case of tablets
deeply into the vaginal. Insertion is done in less than one hour before sex. In
case of the cream, it is squeezed into the vaginal from a can or tube containing
it, with the use of a plastic applicator, which is inserted deeply into vagina.
After some 3-5 hours, foam dissolves and it is discharged from the vagina with
normal vagina secretions.
Actions – The contraceptive contains a
spermicidal that kills sperm. Also the tablets may expand and block the
entrance of the uterus, thereby deterring fertilization.
Merits:
1. It is safe to use
2. It does not affect either menstrual cycle
or sex