Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.): Chapter 13: Family Planning: Working for Change

Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.)

Chapter 13: Family Planning

		(introduction...)
		Benefits of Family Planning
		Is Family Planning Safe?
		Choosing to Use Family Planning
		Choosing a Family Planning Method
		Barrier Methods of Family Planning
		Hormonal Methods of Family Planning hormones
		Intra-Uterine Devices (Devices that go into the womb)
		Natural Methods of Family Planning
		Traditional and Home Methods to Prevent Pregnancy
		Permanent Methods of Family Planning
		Emergency Methods of Family Planning
		Choosing the Best Method
		Working for Change

Working for Change

Sometimes a woman would like to space her children or limit the number she has, but cannot use family planning. This can happen because:

· she cannot get the information about different methods.
· some family planning methods are not easily available or cost too much for the family to afford.
· there are no women’s health or family planning services nearby, or the local health worker is not trained to provide family planning services.
· religious beliefs forbid the use of family planning.
· a woman’s husband does not agree to use family planning.

Here are some things that groups of people can do to make family planning services more available to all women in the community, and to encourage the use of family planning:

· Provide education. Make information about family planning available to everyone - boys and girls as well as women and men. Education programs can show the benefits of family planning and help couples choose the best methods for them. Perhaps you can lead discussions with women or couples about their concerns and experiences related to family planning. Include information about preventing STDs and HIV/AIDS when you talk about family planning.
· Make family planning methods accessible at a low cost. Have a local health worker trained to provide family planning services start a women’s health center or include family planning services at your local clinic.
· Train male outreach workers to educate men about the importance and benefits of family planning. Help men understand their role in reproduction so they can see that they should share the responsibility for family planning. Try to change attitudes about what is ‘manly’ so that men will support and participate in family planning with their partners.
· Address local religious concerns about family planning. If a family planning method can be explained in a way that respects religious beliefs, it will help create more acceptance of it.

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As you talk about family planning in your community, it helps to remember and remind others that family planning is important to improve not just women’s health and well being, but the health and quality of life of everyone in your community.