Contraceptive use on the increase

CONTRACEPTIVE use by women has increased by eight percent over the past five years with some men taking up sterilisation as a form of birth control.

According to a recently published Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (2015) where 6151 women were sampled from the country’s 10 provinces, 67 percent of the women were on birth control.

The figure is an increase from the 59 percent recorded in 2010 and 2011.

The study also shows that 0,4 percent of women between the ages 40 and 49 rely on male partners who are sterilised as a birth control method.

Male sterilisation is a form of contraception that involves surgically cutting or blocking the tubes vital in reproduction.

The medical procedure is prevalent in males in mostly Harare and Bulawayo.

The study also revealed that 68 percent of sexually active unmarried women between 15-49 take contraceptives with the highest number in rural areas.

The survey further highlighted that both married and unmarried women favoured implants whose use has increased from three percent in 2011 to 10 percent in 2015, while the female condom had the least takers.

“Contraceptive use among currently married women in Zimbabwe has increased to 67 percent since the 2010-11 ZDHS when it was 59 percent,” part of the study revealed.

“Only one percent of currently married women use a traditional method.

“The most popular methods are the pill (41 percent), injectables (10 percent), and implants (10 percent).

“Four percent of currently married women use male condoms, and one percent have been sterilised.

“68 percent of sexually active unmarried women currently use a contracep- tive method.

“The choice of method mix for sexually active unmarried women differs from that of currently married women, 27 percent use male condoms, 16 percent use the pill, 14 percent use implants and 8 percent use injectables.

“Implants are almost three times as common among rural women (22 percent) than among their urban counterparts (8 percent).”

Some of the commonly used implants include norplant and jadelle.

The country is seeking to attain universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including family planning under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Registar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede has been encouraging women to use natural birth control methods, arguing that contraceptives present serious health complications.

He argues that natural methods such as the withdrawal method and the rhythm (safe phases of the menstrual cycle) could be used as alternatives.

Mr Mudede adds that the norplant poses 51 side effects and was banned in the United States where it is manufactured.

He also accused the West of promoting dangerous birth control measures to depopulate developing nations.

“Implants are almost three times as common among rural women (22 percent) than among their urban counterparts (8 percent).”