As we all know, childbearing is a wonderful thing. We all aspire to become parents in the future, one way or another. However, when the process is not well planned or the baby arrives unexpectedly, it can result in various crises, both mentally and physically.
That's why science discovered and made known to women the natural method of birth control, which has helped about 60% of couples with child spacing.
Many couples who couldn't utilise this natural method were at risk of having more children than they planned for.
Given the economic situation in my country, it could be challenging for such couples to provide for their children.And this is where family planning and birth control step in and play a crucial role in managing families.It might not be accepted in some countries for various reasons, and those that have embraced it also have their own justifications.
In the late 1990s, the Nigerian government implemented a national population policy with the goal of balancing population growth and resource utilisation to enhance the quality of life for citizens. This was a response to the rapid increase in the country's population due to unplanned pregnancies.
Considering the country's available natural resources, it's a fact that uncontrolled population growth will lead to a drastic depletion of resources, potentially resulting in famine, increased crime rates like armed robbery, and similar issues.
In 2016, birth control was introduced to various health centres in rural areas across the country, including the one in my village. I reckon it was because they realised that poorer individuals tend to have more children than those who are average or wealthy, as do people in rural areas compared to urban areas.
This is because these individuals had little to no education on family planning and sex education. I mention the latter because many teenagers in my country seem to fall victim to unprotected sex, which can lead to life-threatening diseases or pregnancy.
These teenagers are pushed into parenthood without the means to support their children.
The government found this situation distressing and thus made family planning and birth control accessible to both married and unmarried women. This measure has indeed helped numerous families and unmarried women to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
However, many in rural areas are yet to embrace this method of child spacing for reasons best known to them. I suppose they still need to learn about its benefits and how it could help their families.
Nevertheless, it's recommended to get tested before starting birth control to find the best fit. Taking the wrong one could lead to serious side effects; some women have reported issues like internal body heat, boils, and significant weight gain.
It's important to understand that family planning is a choice, not an obligation. Couples opt for it voluntarily to enhance the health and well-being of their entire family.
While having many children can be joyful, lacking sufficient resources to care for them poses a challenge not only for the family but also for society at large.
This could be the major reason why family planning and birth control are widely accepted in my country.
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