Family planning as part of life planning
Jordan Times
July 2, 2007
Family planning saves women’s and children’s lives and improves the quality
of life for the family as a whole, according to the Population Reference
Bureau.
It is one of the most effective investments for helping to ensure the health
and well-being of women, children and communities, and is a key component of
quality reproductive health services.
Family planning is therefore a part of life planning and a crucial concept
for everyone to understand and apply.
Marriage is the most important decision one ever makes and so careful
judgement in marriage is invaluable and could make the difference between a good and
healthy life and an emotionally and physically straining one.
According to Family Health International (FHI), “at least half a million
women die each year of pregnancy-related causes. Ninety-nine per cent live in
developing countries.”
In order to reduce these deaths, FHI suggests that one of the ways is to “reduce the number of pregnancies through family planning”.
Many cultures place high value on early childbearing, and even though early
pregnancies are wanted, according to FHI, there is abundant evidence
indicating that early childbearing increases the risk of obstructed labour, which can
lead to death or long-term disabilities like fistula (an abnormal connection or
passageway between organs or vessels that normally do not connect).
Many studies have shown that up to 80 per cent of patients with vaginal
fistula are less than 20 years old. Family planning can delay first births until
reproductive organs are fully developed and pregnancy is safer.
Another reason for high mortality in pregnancy-related causes is pregnancy
in young unmarried women. Such pregnancies are rarely welcomed, carrying a high
risk of abortion and potentially high mortality associated with unsafe
procedures.
According to the World Health Organisation, contraceptive use saves women’s
lives and improves their health by allowing women to avoid unwanted and
poorly timed pregnancies.
In addition to saving lives, family planning reduces fertility and can help
relieve the pressures that rapidly growing populations place on economic,
social and natural resources.
Rapid population growth strains the nation’s resources, impedes economic
growth and makes it more difficult to achieve improvements in education, health,
and environmental quality.
According to USAID in Jordan, “Jordan has one of the fastest growing
populations in the world. Between the two censuses in 1979 and 1994, the population grew
from 2.1 to 5.1 million people, an average increase of 2.7 per cent
annually. At this rate, the population of Jordan will double in 25 years.
“The government of Jordan has recognised that this will place tremendous
strain on Jordan’s natural resource base.”
Data from surveys suggests that approximately 120 million additional married
women worldwide would use a modern family planning method if more accurate
information and affordable, quality contraceptive services were easily
available, and if husbands and partners, family members and the community
were supportive, USAID in Jordan said.
Support from men is important in family planning where decisions can be
difficult in Muslim countries like Jordan. From 1998 to 2000, the Jordanian
National Population Committee and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health Centre for Communication Programmes designed a campaign titled
“Together for a Happy Family”, which emphasised the importance of men’s involvement
and an educated society towards family planning.
Many people are unaware that Islam permits modern family planning methods,
according to “Together for a Happy Family” campaign.
Because of culture and traditions, generally, special groups that have
inadequate access to family planning information and services include
adolescents (many of whom are unprepared for sexual activity, parenthood and
family life); unmarried people postponing the first pregnancy, displaced
populations, people with disabilities, and the poor, especially the rural
poor,according to FHI.
Today Jordan Health Communication Partnership is carrying out numerous
family planning campaigns across the cities and villages of Jordan, called Hayati
Ahla (My life is more beautiful), in a bid to educate men and women on the
importance of family planning for their health and well-being, and involve men in
family planning decisions.
Since the “Together for a Happy Family” campaign was started, there has been
improvement in men’s involvement in family planning issues, according to the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Centre for Communication
Programmes.
“The proportion of men who used a family planning method and discussed it
with their wives significantly increased from 93 per cent to 98 per cent between
1996 and 2001.”
Part of the education on family planning involves informing people who wish
to get married about the importance of getting medical checkups before marriage
and doing genetic tests.
Getting married is a special, exciting and busy time that is a dream for
most women, but there is more to getting married than just roses and dreams. It
is one of the most serious and difficult decisions taken in life, so planning
for the rest of one’s life is crucial, and this includes starting your marriage
on a healthy track.