Nakasongola men shun family planning
Dec 02, 2010
MEN in Nakasongola district do not want to use contraceptives to space their children, Francis Baguma, the district health coordinator of Save the Children in Uganda (SCiUG), has said.
By Abou Kisige
and Conan Businge
MEN in Nakasongola district do not want to use contraceptives to space their children, Francis Baguma, the district health coordinator of Save the Children in Uganda (SCiUG), has said.
Baguma said recent research showed that men in the area take pride in having many children.
“With a 23% contraception usage, the area has one of the highest fertility rates in the country. However, the men are happy with it because they do not want to practice family planning,†he said.
Baguma made the remarks on Saturday while launching the Everyone Campaign, which aims at saving lives of newborn babies and promoting family planning services ahead of celebrations to mark the child rights day on December 27.
“The women who embrace family planning risk their husbands getting other wives because culture encourages large families.â€
Topher Mugumya, the advocacy and communications manager of SCiUG, wondered why women struggle to please men by disregarding their health.
Mugumya advised men to utilise family planning services which are the key to having families of manageable size.
“We have a problem with men. Most of them do not want to use any form of family planning. But I believe with sensitisation, they will realise the benefits of small families and adapt to the methods available,†Mugumya said.
He said SCiUG would sensitise men on the burdens of having many children: “In Nakasongola alone, we have trained over 900 village health teams to help sensitise people on family planning methods.â€
and Conan Businge
MEN in Nakasongola district do not want to use contraceptives to space their children, Francis Baguma, the district health coordinator of Save the Children in Uganda (SCiUG), has said.
Baguma said recent research showed that men in the area take pride in having many children.
“With a 23% contraception usage, the area has one of the highest fertility rates in the country. However, the men are happy with it because they do not want to practice family planning,†he said.
Baguma made the remarks on Saturday while launching the Everyone Campaign, which aims at saving lives of newborn babies and promoting family planning services ahead of celebrations to mark the child rights day on December 27.
“The women who embrace family planning risk their husbands getting other wives because culture encourages large families.â€
Topher Mugumya, the advocacy and communications manager of SCiUG, wondered why women struggle to please men by disregarding their health.
Mugumya advised men to utilise family planning services which are the key to having families of manageable size.
“We have a problem with men. Most of them do not want to use any form of family planning. But I believe with sensitisation, they will realise the benefits of small families and adapt to the methods available,†Mugumya said.
He said SCiUG would sensitise men on the burdens of having many children: “In Nakasongola alone, we have trained over 900 village health teams to help sensitise people on family planning methods.â€