Women Shun Long Term Family Planning Methods

By Frank Kauteka Tembo

Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) says it has noted with concern that women in Mzimba North and even the whole Northern Malawi are shunning long term methods of family planning due to lack of knowledge, limited availability of these methods, costs and various cultural myths. 

BLM lamented on Saturday in a meeting held at Kawuwa Primary School in Mzuzu in partnership with Mzimba North District Health Office aimed at raising awareness of women’s long term family planning methods especially the IUCD which is popularly known as the loop.

BLM’s Behavioral Change Communications Officer for the Northern Region Ian Nkhumbanyiwa said his organization will intensify awareness meetings so that women are motivated and therefore take advantage of free loop days at its Mzuzu Clinic.

“Most women are not forthcoming to access these methods because they do not know of these methods and again because of myths associated with the methods thus why we are trying to clear up myths associated with the methods.

This method is not available in Health Centers but only in District Hospitals and Banja La Mtsogolo Clinics because it requires experts to handle the method, as such, BLM spares one day in every month during which women access loop for free to assist those that cannot afford to pay for the service,” he said.

Nkhumbanyiwa added that long family planning methods are efficient and reliable therefore; women are encouraged to use these methods to reduce number of spontaneous pregnancies which brings burden in families as well as threaten women’s lives.

Family Planning Coordinator for Mzimba North District Health Office Tiyamike Mekani said her office is equally sad with women’s lack of interest in long term methods such as loop, hence its decision to partner with BLM in the sensitization meetings.

“A lot of maternal deaths occur due to unplanned pregnancies which come about due to lack of family planning and undependable short family planning methods hence the  use of long term methods can avoid some of maternal complications,” she said.

She applauded BLM’s initiative of sparing one day every month for women to access free loop service saying the development is complementing government’s effort of improving reproductive health.