How men’s involvement enhances success of family planning in Adamawa
Family planning and child spacing has become a very important discuss in our society in this report, Correspondent, Austin Ajayi takes a look at how men’s involvement has increased the public acceptance of the program in Adamawa state North Eastern Nigeria.
Family planning and child spacing is the process where a family soon or before marriage make up their minds on how many children they would want and when are they going to start having children.
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In most societies today due to religious and cultural beliefs, children come from God and they do not have control over but studies have proven that you can program yourselves as family to have these number of children at certain space intervals.
There are a lots of reasons why family planning and child spacing is important; one it guarantee healthy living, reduces mortality, and increased economic power of the family.
Men’s involvement in family planning and child spacing has significantly contributed to the acceptance and success of such programs.
Research shows that when men accompany their wives to health facilities to access family planning methods, they encourage other men to do the same, increasing acceptability and use of family planning.
Man’s involvement improves uptake of family planning methods by women through spousal communication and decreases opposition, leading to lower method discontinuation rates.
Spousal Communication: Men who discuss family planning with their spouses gets involved in family planning use, reduced opposition to family planning, fostering a more supportive environment for contraceptive use.
A Successful involvement of men in
Adamawa state, Nigeria, a media advocacy working group for family planning and child spacing emphasized the need for more men participation in child spacing procedures and activities to achieve the best results.
The Challenge Initiative (tci) Devcom through media Advocacy have encouraged men’s involvement in family planning improved contraceptive practices and reduced sexual intimate partner violence
Men’s involvement in family planning is a shared responsibility that informed decision-making benefits everyone and has promoted healthy relationships and economic stability.
Through tci DevCom media Advocacy group cultural sensitivity interventions that respect local customs and values, engaging community leaders and influencers to promote family has created assessment to services, ensuring that men have access to family planning services, counseling, and support, addressing barriers to uptake.
Women’s perspectives on men supporting Family Planning and Child Spacing, women generally appreciate and value when men (their husbands or partners) support family planning and child spacing.
Research has proven that when men are involved and supportive of family planning, it leads to better reproductive health outcomes and more harmonious decision-making within the family.
Women often feel more empowered and supported when their partners are involved in family planning decisions leading to less conflict over reproductive decisions, fostering a more cooperative relationship.
In Gurin, a border town between Nigerians Cameroon, more men now encouraged their spouses to adopt family planing facilities.
At the Primary Health Care (PHC) center statistics shows that in every 10 women who come to access the FP services 6 are accompanied by their partners, this is a far cry from what it was sometimes back.
Adamu Bariki Gongoni said I am very happy bringing my wife here, this is our first child after the last child was born 6 years ago, “it was because of the family planning program I attended here that changed my mind, may be I should have talking of the 7th or 8th child ”
” We are not thinking of adding another child, what I pray for is for God to protect my family and give me the resources to train my family ”
Hajiya Nafisa Abubakar, in her early 30s a mother of two said words are not enough to thank the people who came to educate her and her husband on family planning and child spacing.
” My first child is 7 years old while the second is less than 3 years old, we are all looking good and healthy because my husband and I agree to plan our family, infact, it is my husband who is in the forefront , I am happy for this decision” she said.
From the boarder town of Gurin to the back mountains in Madagali and to the Savannah the statistics is same, most challenges in the past have been addressed more men are now involved though there is still more to be done.
The Family Planning Focal person in Adamawa state, Hajiya Aisha Garba commended the advocacy drive of The Challenge Initiative (tci) and Davcom and all it’s partners for taking the awareness to all nook and corners of the state.
As at today ” we have 199, 840 women of child bearing age, 194,155 are using morden contraceptive method”
” in just one month we had 149 new acceptance of family planning and child spacing, all these successes is largely due to the awareness created and the menfolk involvement in the campaign ”
She said the state government through the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ADSPHCDA) has always make sure commodities are available at all time.
Mr Godiya Yusuf, the project manager, The Challenge Initiative (tci) appreciated the response to the call for everyone (family) to embrace family planning and child spacing noting the success recorded is impressive.
But ” I must tell a lot still need to be done, we at tci will always partner with relevant agencies to improve awareness on the dangers of mortal mortality and the way to reduce it ”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharm. Banana Zirra who gave an insight to the FP program noted that the state government has not only paid it’s counterpart funding but has also trained health workers, volunteers and religious, traditional and community leaders on the need for every family to embrace family planning and child spacing.
Parm .Zirra added that the rate of men’s involvement has really help in reducing unwanted pregnancy, improved the health and living standards of our people.
He called for more holistic commitment in the fight against martanal mortality and children dieing as a result of poor health.
