A registered public health nurse, Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, has called for collective efforts to dispel myths and misconceptions about family planning methods.

Akinlabi, the Adolescent and Youth S and Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer, Osun Primary Healthcare Board during a virtual engagement programme organised by the State Public Health media team with the support of a Non-governmental Organisation, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in Osogbo.

She said that the various myths and misconception about family planning methods had led to high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, high maternal, mortality and morbidity rate in the state and the country at large.

Akinlabi also said that this had led to reduced use of modern contraception rate and increased risk of high-risk pregnancies in the society.

She spoke on the topic ” The impacts of Family Planning Myths And Misconceptions on Spacing, Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion”.

” Myths and misconceptions about family planning negatively impact child spacing and abortion rates by preventing the use of contraceptives, leading to unwanted pregnancies, and subsequently, more abortions.

” These false beliefs create barriers to access and utilisation of family planning methods, increasing the risks of unwanted pregnancies and risky sexual behaviour.

” There is urgent need to debunk these myths and equip individuals with accurate facts to make informed decision about our reproductive health.

” It is our collective responsibilities to dispel rumour about contraceptives, raise awareness about the benefits of family planning and create safer spaces for our girls and women”, she said.

Akinlabi also said that the popular beliefs that contraceptives pills could encourage infidelity and permanent infertility in women were not correct.

She also said that contraceptives pills could not cause cancer of the ovary and the lining of the uterus in women as being misconstructed.

Akinlabi, however, said that myths and misconceptions were the major challenge to uptake of family planning in the state and the country at large.

She said family planning empowers individuals to choose the number, spacing and timing of their children, leading to improved health outcomes for the mother and the child.

She commended TCI for their various interventions programmes in promoting family planning in the state.

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2 False beliefs creating barriers to family planning access, Expert

Mrs Roseline Akinlabi, the Adolescent, Youth and Sexual Reproductive Health Desk Officer, Osun Primary Healthcare Board has said that false beliefs about contraception and family planning methods is creating barriers to access, utilisation, increasing unwanted pregnancies and risky sexual behaviour among girls and women.

Akinlabi, a certified family planning trainer said this during a virtual engagement programme organised by the State Public Health media team with the support of a Non-governmental Organisation, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) on Friday in Osogbo.

She said that the numerous myths and misconceptions often surround family planning methods, creating confusion and hindering access to essential care.

Akinlabi spoke on the topic “The impacts of Family Planning Myths And Misconceptions on Spacing, Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion”.

She said that the various myths and misconceptions about family planning methods had led to high prevalence of teenage pregnancy, high maternal, mortality and morbidity rate in the state and the country at large.

Akinlabi called for collective responsibilities to dispel rumour about contraceptives, raise awareness about the benefits of family planning and create a safer space for girls and women in the society.

She also said that the popular beliefs that contraceptives pills could encourage infidelity and permanent infertility in women were not correct.

Akinlabi said that contraceptives pills could not cause cancer of the ovary and the lining of the uterus in women as being misconstructed.

She said that myths and misconceptions were the major challenge to uptake of family planning in the state and the country at large.

“These false beliefs create barriers to access and utilisation of family planning methods, increasing the risks of unwanted pregnancies and risky sexual behaviour.

” There is urgent need to debunk these myths and equip individuals with accurate facts to make informed decision about our reproductive health”, she said.

She called for the comprehensive sex education, public health campaigns and community based interventions to mitigate myths and misconceptions about family planning methods in the state.

Speaking on the benefits of family planning, Akinlabi said that it empowers individuals to choose the number , spacing and timing of their children, leading to improved health outcomes for the mother and the child.

She commended TCI for their various interventions programmes in promoting family planning in the state.