BY EDDIE KASIRYE
Birth control, also known as contraception, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent pregnancy. There are many different types. Some are reversible, while others are permanent. Contraception can also be defined as the intentional prevention of conception through the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs, or surgical procedures. Thus, any device or act whose purpose is to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant can be considered a contraceptive.
In any social context, effective contraception allows a couple to enjoy a physical relationship without fear of unwanted pregnancy and ensures enough freedom to have children when desired. The aim is to achieve this with maximum comfort and privacy and, at the same time, minimum cost and side effects.
Globally, adolescent fertility has been associated with an increased risk of maternal and child health morbidity and mortality. The low use of contraception has been associated with high fertility levels, which remains a public health concern. Hence, the suggestion to lower the age of family planning to 15 years by medics if taken in their own words is meant to prevent the children from getting pregnant and dying while giving birth or better still, let them take family planning if they can’t avoid it.
It is alleged that the Ministry of Health was mooting a plot to approve the use of teenage contraceptives amongst teenagers starting from age 15. This is attributed to the increased number of teenage pregnancies, where the culprits seem to be in full knowledge of their actions; that these are young girls, and that the offense tantamounts to defilement. Moreover, these young children are being married off to men as old as 65. The development came at the spur of the moment when recently, Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) while issuing a statement ahead of the commemoration of the World Population Day noted that Uganda had chosen a theme; “Prioritize Free Education: Prevent School Dropouts and Improve Household Incomes” to sensitize the public on the high teenage pregnancies and school dropout rates.
Positively, the use of contraceptives would help keep the girl–child in school. It is a fact that when girls are educated, it doesn’t just change their lives but it transforms families, communities and countries. Girls who are educated are more likely to marry later and delay having children, consequently, reducing the pregnancy-related deaths and infant mortality rates. All in all, education closes skills gaps and creates a more prosperous world.
In my view, adolescent health is a core component of sexual and reproductive health. In the recent past, parents have been taking on the mantle to educate their daughters on how to live with and manage their hormones. The problem is confusing such a noble intentioned science with population control. I would vouch for adolescent health as a complete package and not selectively. Previous adolescent health implementations yielded better results than selective implementation i.e. Straight Talk both paper and clubs, Interact clubs, NBM, ABC, Youth Alive, etc. Contraception for adolescents only deals with teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies and unplanned pregnancies as consequences, what about the quality of life, HIV, STDs, STIs, shame, rape, molestation, cancers, obesity, reproductive disorders that come with the regular use of contraceptives at a tender age.
On the other hand, as a social scientist and a psychologist, I don’t support the introduction of contraceptives among adolescents, the reason being the long-term impact of the adolescents feeling it’s “fine” to engage in sex since pregnancy is controllable. The consequences of contraceptives used for a long time since adolescents are many will be immense. We also recall that God created us purposefully. In Psalm 127:3, we are told that “… children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” NIV Thus, I concur with the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa who requested the government not to approve the policy on the use of contraceptives among teenagers, saying such a move would be akin to legitimizing sexual violence in Uganda. He prayed that the devil doesn’t find his way and that such thoughts should never come into the minds of our people because it is giving up. “That is formalizing defilement. That is clearly saying we have failed. We would rather strengthen the monitoring to ensure that we fight this vice rather than legitimizing it by giving such services and I am glad it isn’t yet a policy,” said Tayebwa.
Therefore, I suggest that we uphold the previous adolescent health implementations such as: Straight Talk – both paper and clubs, Interact clubs, NBM, ABC and Youth Alive clubs, which yielded better results than the selective implementation.
