Unplanned Pregnancy: Gynecologist Cautions Against Reliance On Withdrawal Method
Coitus Interruption commonly known as withdrawal method has been identified as an effective method for preventing unplanned pregnancy but does not guarantee 100 per efficacy.
Prof. Abubarka Panti a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto said this during a Zoom media training on Reproductive Health organised by Rotary International on Friday.
The training organised by Rotary Action on Group for Reproductive Maternal and Child Health was in conjunction with German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.
In his presentation, Panti said the Withdrawal Method, which is one of the natural methods of family planning, was susceptible to failure as it required a high level of discipline on the part of man as the ejaculation time was the highpoint of sexual sensation.
He said there were cases where stubborn semen still found its way into the female and fertilise them, thereby resulting to unplanned pregnancy.
He said Lactational Amenorrhoea also known as exclusive breastfeeding was another effective way of preventing pregnancy provided that the woman is not menstruating and chances of conception in the first six months was two per cent.
Abubarka said the Rhythm or Calendar method which confirmed to doctrine of most faith based organisation entailed the avoidance of sex during the period of ovulation required detailed observation to determine the safe period of the woman.
He said there was need to scale up family planning education and access to contraceptives to check prevalence of unplanned pregnancy associated with it.
The expert said Nigeria is the second largest to under five mortality with an average of 117 deaths recorded per 1,000 live births in 2019.
According to him, while other developed countries have child mortality due to gains from child immunisation, Nigeria still has a high rate, the more women lose children, the more they want more by getting pregnant.
Abubarka there advocated that concerted effort should be made to get people to embrace contraceptive services which include permanent, temporary and emergency methods of family planning.
He said a good chunk of one per cent of consolidated revenue earmarked for health emergencies should be devoted to family planning education and procurement of contraceptives for onward distribution to people.
Declaring the day open, Prof. Emmanuel Lufadeju, said the training was to increase the capacity of journalists in reporting reproductive health issues and urged participants to make good use of lessons learnt.
Lufadeju who is the National Coordinator of Rotary Action Group for Reproductive Maternal and Child Health (RMCH) said effective Family Planning could reduce child and maternal mortality by 30 per cent.
He said Family Planning could help Nigeria reap demographic dividends by ensuring that only an active and economically viable population is maintained as against the case of unchecked fertility.
The Don said there was a need for a community based approach to family planning through distribution of contraceptives to those that need them.
