Imagine someone telling you about family planning when you are not married in a society that condemns premarital sex. Not only that, in addition, you have not given having a family any thought but you are sexually active. Do you wonder, “What does family planning have to do with me?” At the same time, imagine someone telling you about pregnancy prevention, talking about the preventative measures using the term contraceptives and not family planning. Would that change how you feel about the information being shared with you?
Words have a huge effect on the levels of interest and acceptance of various concepts, in this case, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention. Of course, abstinence remains the most effective method for preventing pregnancy, but we can not turn a blind eye to the need to increase information on contraception. Firstly, what is meant by contraception? According to the National Library of Medicine, contraception is the act of preventing pregnancy. This can be a device, a medication, a procedure, or a behavior. Contraception allows users to have control over their reproductive health. Being pregnant because you want to, not because you had sex. In other words, contraception is birth control.
Contraception and family planning are often used interchangeably. For vast communities, contraceptives were introduced to them as family planning. However, it is cardinal to know that contraceptives are a subset of family planning, and family planning is not all about contraceptives. The use of the two terms interchangeably is common and maybe might be acceptable in most communities, but sometimes it affects how adolescents and young people react to the information being shared.
Just a quick look at what family planning is about, according to the World Health Organisation, family planning is defined as “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. Family planning is broad and does not necessarily mean contraception, family planning also consists of information on reproductive health, fertility awareness, child spacing, and adoption.
When communicating, the idea is to pass on information using the terms and words that adolescents and young people can resonate with. It is very important to be sensitive to the recipient of the information and the information itself. This is the only way to obtain comprehensive information or education on contraception. Zambian languages do not accommodate certain words or terms in contraception. However, this is where explaining becomes vital. If one cannot directly translate, one can explain a particular method of contraception.
Now that we know the difference between family planning and contraception, let us look at some of the contraception methods in detail. There are several methods, but all are categorized under either short-term or long-term contraceptives. Long-term contraception methods last three, five, or ten years, depending on the method and brand used. The three main methods of long-term contraception are the copper intrauterine device (IUD), popularly known as the ‘loop’, the Mirena (hormone-releasing IUD), and the implant. On the other hand, short-term contraception prevents pregnancy for one to three months. The short-term methods must be replenished at a clinic, hospital, or drugstore every month, two times a year, or every three months. Short-term contraception includes the patch, injections, combined pills, and condoms.
While all contraceptive methods aim to prevent pregnancy through various mechanisms—such as preventing sperm from reaching an egg, delaying ovulation, or altering the uterine lining—condoms are unique because they are the only method that also prevents the transmission of STIs. Condoms act as a barrier, preventing direct contact between bodily fluids during sexual activity, thus reducing the risk of contracting or spreading STIs, including HIV. This makes condoms not only a vital part of pregnancy prevention but also an essential tool for sexual health, especially in environments where young people may be engaging in sexual activity but are concerned about both pregnancy and STIs.
All contraceptive methods either do one or more of the following: prevent the sperm from reaching an egg, delay the ovary from releasing an egg, damage the sperm so it can not swim to an egg, thicken the cervical mucus so sperm cannot swim through it to the egg or thicken the uterine lining so that an egg can not implant. Contraception methods can either be hormonal, sterilization (surgical), barrier devices, fertility awareness, also called natural methods, or abstinence. All contraceptive methods are effective when practiced correctly. However, it is better to emphasize that the best contraception methods are based on what is easy to use or comfortable for the user. There are several contraception options, and people, especially adolescents and young people, should have the choice to decide what method to use based on their needs.
