adminWimbanashe Zhakata Mutare Correspondent
Manicaland Province is lagging behind in the use of contraceptives and family planning methods, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) has said. Speaking at an adolescence sexual reproductive health forum held in Mutare recently, ZNFPC’s Manicaland province marketing and communications officer Mr Daniel Maromo said the use of contraceptives in the province was either poor on non-existent.
“Manicaland has big families and this is a challenge. Incidentally, the province has also recorded the highest teenage pregnancy prevalence rates in the country.”
Mr Maromo advised women to use family planning methods as a way of reducing unwanted pregnancies.
He also said religious beliefs, especially for some sects that do not allow women to use family planning methods, and cultural beliefs were limiting the use of contraceptives.
ZNFPC, he said, is however trying to distribute contraceptives such as condoms in order to reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancies.
“ZNFPC has come up with a solution to increase knowledge of long-term acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS) among women and men from 46 percent to 51 percent by 2020,” said Mr Maromo.
According to Mr Maromo, ZNFPC was pushing for the use of LARCS such as jadelle, which lasts for five years, including implants that last for three years and the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) or loop, which lasts for 12 years.
“We also need to increase knowledge of LARCS among women and men from 46 percent to 51 percent by 2020 in line with the family planning strategy,” said Mr Maromo.
Speaking at the same forum, Mrs Emilia Mwatse (46), from Chikanga high-density suburb, said she did not use family planning methods because her husband did not allow her to do so, as he feared that she might go barren in the long term or suffer from side effects.
Online Reporter