The low access to modern contraceptive is said to be responsible for the country’s overbloated population, NewsSpecng learnt.
Nigeria’s population is estimated to be in the region of about 200 million of which about half are women.
Only 12% among currently married women and 28% among sexually active unmarried women use low modern contraceptive, a recent report on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) has stated.
The report was from findings made by the Marie Stopes International Organization Nigeria (MSION).
According to the report, this implies that women and girls needing contraception are not having their needs met.
It further revealed that demand for family planning is 35.5% among married women. Out of this 35.5%, only 16.6% are met needs
leaving more than half – 18.9% as unmet needs for family planning.
Furthermore, the report showed that among sexually active unmarried women with a demand for family planning at 84.2%, more than half (45%) out of 84.2% is unmet needs.
During a paper presentation on ‘Enabling Quality Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health’ in Abuja, the Head, Marketing and Communication, MSION Ogechi Onuoha noted that for SRH to be achieved, men and women’s rights to quality SRH information, counselling and services are primary.
Explaining the concept of SRH, Onuoha said “people have satisfying and safe sex life (this includes persons with disability), people have the capability to reproduce, people are empowered to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of children, women can go through pregnancy and childbirth safely and reproduction is carried to a successful outcome – child survival and well being
Understanding the need for universal health coverage of SRH
services, Onuoha said “10.3 million pregnancies every year, ~1 in 5 end in an abortion. Out of 1.9 million abortions every year; 72% are unsafe and 1.4 million unsafe abortions every year.”
She also expressed the organisation’s determination to offer comprehensive SHR services that enable women all over Nigeria to choose their reproductive health future through its various service delivery channels.
