Importance of Family Planning and Benefit of Family Planning to Mother, Father, Community and Country

Family planning is a conscious decision by individual or couples to choose for themselves when to start having children, how many children to have, how to space them or when to stop having children. So the individual or couple, is completely involved in it and choose from many contraceptive methods to help them plan their family and prevent unwanted pregnancy. They need to know that if they are having sex regularly and do not use a contraceptive method, about 8 of every 10 women will become pregnant during the next 12 months.

Every individual or couple wants different choice of  Contraceptive method, Some do not want to take pills as they forget easily,some want to get pregnant immediately after stopping a contraceptive method, some do not want to get pregnant anymore. Some may need protection from STIs and will choose condoms to be used alone or in addition to another contraceptive method. So providers can help women,men and couples based on their preference and situation and choose a method that is best for them.

Most women seeking family planning services already know the method they want so it is the duty of the family planning counsellor, to assist them with all the necessary information on the method they want. And if it is not good for their situation, let them know but allow a client make an informed voluntary choice and is not denied a method.

So let’s look at W.H.O’s Definition of family planning.

Family planning is defined as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. it is achieved through use of contraceptive method and the treatment of involuntary infertility”.

1. It prevents unwanted pregnancies among individuals or couples and also among HIV positive women.

2. It reduces maternal and child mortality.

3. Helps couples decide the number of children they want, the spacing of the children, and also make them prepare financially.

4. It reduces the spread of sexually transmitted  infections(STIs and AIDS).

5. It reduces the rate of infertility.

6. Consistent Breastfeeding provides natural contraceptive as it helps women who are not aware, those who lack money to purchase a contraceptive and those whose religion is against use of contraceptive.

7. It gives individuals and couples the opportunity to choose the method they like e.g those who don’t like swallowing pills could go for implant. there by making everyone a partaker.

8. Combine oral contraceptive pills (COCs) offer significant protection from cancer.