Health professionals at a webinar on the role of contraception in ensuring ideal family size have criticized its low use by Nigerians. Participants at the webinar who noted that the use of contraceptives in Nigeria is not more than 17 percent, described the rate as alarmingly low. The experts similarly frowned at the likelihood of many couples having more children than they could conveniently raise, placing themselves and the larger community in stressful resource situations.
The webinar which was hosted by Development Communications Network, DevCome, with support from The Challenge Initiative, TCI Nigeria, featured Professor Josiah Mutihir of Jos University Teaching Hospital and other health professionals who called attention to the critical role of contraception in empowering Nigerians to take control of their reproductive health and socio-economic wellbeing.
Mutihir and the other health professionals at the webinar said expanding access to contraception would reduce maternal mortality, improve the socio-economic conditions of families, and place young people in positions to take informed steps in the making of children.
The participants at the webinar, organized as part of activities by DevCom and TCI Nigeria to mark this year’s World Contraception Day on the theme, ‘Breaking Barriers: Advancing Access to Family Planning in Resource-limited Settings’, emphasized the need for Nigeria to address unbridled procreation and avoid the hardship it causes.
Making the point that poor funding mainly accounts for low access to and use of different family planning methods and services, the health professionals canvassed increased funding by national, state, and local authorities.
They also charged religious, ethnic, and community leaders to educate their communities on the need for helpful contraceptive practices.
