Your Life, Your Responsiblity

Well, hello there! It has been a while. Please share your thoughts below.

 

Did you know that today, September 26, 2019 is World Contraception Day? You don’t believe me, Google it. I’m sure you will but let me give you a little background right here. The World Contraception Day was launched in 2007 to ‘improve awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health’ (your-life.com). Celebrated on September 26 every year since, the campaign is concentrated on achieving a world where every pregnancy occurrence is deliberate or planned and therefore wanted. This year’s theme is “It’s your life, it’s your responsibility”.

Contraception and Contraceptives

Now let’s go back to the basics: what is contraception and contraceptives? The offline English dictionary defines contraception as ‘the use of a device or procedure to prevent conception as a result of sexual activity’. Palpably, contraceptives are those devices and procedures that are used to prevent pregnancies.

Contraception Methods

There are several ways to try and prevent pregnancies, some more viable than others, but there’s something that works for everyone. 

There’s the condom for both male and female, the pill, diaphragm, contraceptive implant, contraceptive injection, contraceptive ring, contraceptive patch, intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine system (IUS), cervical cap, sponge, spermicides, sterilization, withdrawal, fertility awareness (knowledge of your body cycle for women) and emergency contraceptives which usually take the form of the pill. All of the above mentioned work with different time frames; some are good for years, others a few months or days.

Contraceptive Prevalence

The above stated term can be explained as the rate at which sexually active women or their partners practice at least one method of contraception. Country specific studies conducted by the UN from 1980 to 2015 show a rise in the practice of modern contraceptive methods in Ghana among women aged 15-49 years, albeit still low. It can be said that we have come a long way from our initial 5.5% of 1980 to 2015’s 28.6%. After a nearly 7% spike from 16.6% in 2008 to 24.9% in 2011, contraceptive prevalence subsequently fell to 18.2% in 2013 before rising again; first to 22.2% in 2014 and then 28.6%. This research is 4 years old and I’d like to think that with awareness creation campaigns and works by government and non-governmental organizations to make family planning more accessible, this number has been increasing since.

Factors Influencing Contraceptive Usage

Previous researches conducted in different parts of Ghana and the continent of Africa have shown the issues that affect the reception of contraceptives, especially among women, to be diverse and several. They include but are not limited to age, religious and cultural beliefs, socialization, etc.

For me, the one that stood out was religious grounds, thus, contraception-use seen as being immoral because it is a foundation that gives root to some other determinants.

When something is seen as immoral, it means that is a violation of the standards generally acceptable to a group of people. People who are very religious would flee at the mention of immorality or anything close to it. Those who aren’t too religious but still identify as a part of some faith would also shy away so as not become the one who embraces wrongdoing.

The core of the issue is why contraceptive use is seen as immoral. For some, God’s instruction to man was to ‘be fruitful and multiply’. Children, fruits of the womb, are a gift from God. Therefore, ‘contracepting’ pregnancy is like going against God’s word and at the same time blocking something that is natural from happening. For others, the problem is not with the contraceptive itself as much as it is with who it is that uses it. Couples who are married in come sects are encouraged to use contraceptives to plan their families. What is frowned upon is the use among people who are not married, especially young people.

What is the way forward?

-         ABC’s of old

Some twelve to fifteen years ago when the message of HIV/AIDS was rampant, I remember the numerous songs, books, videos and posters all for the campaign. The ABC, I will never forget. Abstinence. Be faithful to your partner. Condom use. I saw them as alternatives for the option before the other: abstain from sex, but if you can’t then be faithful to your partner, if you can’t do that either then make sure you protect yourself by wearing a condom. Today, there are several sexually transmitted diseases that AIDS has lost its bark. Maybe we should revisit the concept of the ABC.

-          Discuss sex education in schools and homes

Lemme ask, growing up, were you given ANY sex education by your parents? If yes, how did they go about it? If no, how did you learn about sex? My Mummy had this talk she’d give when we (my sisters and I) told her we’d seen blood for the first time. It could be long but it basically said: now you’re a woman. Don’t allow any boy to deceive you with sweet words. If you allow him sleep with you, you’ll get pregnant. Was that enough? I don’t know, but I read a lot so anything she left out, I probably already knew. 

As millennials, let us not repeat the mistakes our parents made. Whatever they did wrong, make it your goal to correct. Whatever they’re not doing enough of, add up to. Talk to your kids and little siblings. Be their friend. Listen and don’t judge them. You made mistakes? Let them know so they can learn. Something work for you? Tell them, so they can make their choices. But do not leave them uninformed, unguided and at the mercy of their friends and google.

-          What about the religion?

Generally, most religions are against pre-marital sex and so advocate abstinence rather than contraception. My question is: is this message preventing or even reducing cases of pregnancy in our communities? I know that the holistic growth of the youth is not dependent on our various religions alone, but it is no doubt that it is one of the focal points that influence us. Maybe there’s something that is not being said or a way a better way to get to our young. 

My point also is this: at the end of the day, we cannot force decisions down the throats of others. We can only educate and inform and pray. The ultimate decisions is up to the individual. Perhaps we should consider laying out all the choices available including family planning. Truthfully, the presence of sex cannot be ignored! And its effects are felt by the community at large. And in this day and age where the internet makes information available, they probably know already. So why not discuss it, rather than pretend it’s not there?

What Now?

You have the right to plan your future. However you decide to go about it is up to you. If you decide to have sex, please do it the safe way. Discover which one works for you and go with it.  Remember, it’s your life, it’s your responsibility.

PS: Photos are not mine. With time, I shall furnish you with their rightful owners.