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Family planning/contraception methods

• Among the 1.9 billion women of reproductive age group (15–49 years) worldwide in 2021, 1.1 billion have a need for family planning; of these, 874 million are using modern contraceptive methods, and 164 million have an unmet need for contraception (1) .
• The proportion of the need for family planning satisfied by modern methods, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator 3.7.1, has stagnated globally at around 77% from 2015 to 2022 but increased from 52% to 58% in sub-Saharan Africa (2) .
• Only one contraceptive method, condoms, can prevent both a pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Use of contraception advances the human right of people to determine the number and spacing of their children.
• In 2022, global contraceptive prevalence of any method was estimated at 65% and of modern methods at 58.7% for married or in a union women (3) .

There are many different types of contraception, but not all types are appropriate for all situations. The most appropriate method of birth control depends on an individual’s overall health, age, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners, desire to have children in the future, and family history of certain diseases. Ensuring access for all people to their preferred contraceptive methods advances several human rights including the right to life and liberty, freedom of opinion, expression and choice and the right to work and education, as well as bringing significant health and other benefits.

Use of contraception prevents pregnancy-related health risks for women, especially for adolescent girls, and when expressed in terms of interbirth intervals, children born within 2 years of an elder sibling have a 60% increased risk of infant death, and those born within 2–3 years a 10% increased risk, compared with those born after an interval of 3 years or longer (4) . It offers a range of potential non-health benefits that encompass expanded education opportunities and empowerment for women, and sustainable population growth and economic development for countries.

The number of women desiring to use family planning has increased markedly over the past two decades, from 900 million in 2000 to nearly 1.1 billion in 2021 (1) .

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of women using a modern contraceptive method increased from 663 million to 851 million. An additional 70 million women are projected to be added by 2030. Between 2000 and 2020, the contraceptive prevalence rate (percentage of women aged 15–49 who use any contraceptive method) increased from 47.7 to 49.0% (5) .

The proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) is 77.5% globally in 2022, a 10% increase since 1990 (67%) (2) .

The proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) is 77.5% globally in 2022, an increase of 10 percentage points since 1990 (67%) (2) . Reasons for this slow increase include limited choice of methods; limited access to services, particularly among young, poorer and unmarried people; fear or experience of side-effects; cultural or religious opposition; poor quality of available services; users’ and providers’ bias against some methods; and gender-based barriers to accessing services. As these barriers are addressed in some regions there have been increases in demand satisfied with modern methods of contraception.

Contraceptive methods

Methods of contraception include oral contraceptive pills, implants, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intra uterine devices, condoms, male and female sterilization, lactational amenorrhea methods, withdrawal and fertility awareness-based methods. These methods have different mechanisms of action and effectiveness in preventing unintended pregnancy. Effectiveness of methods is measured by the number of pregnancies per 100 women using the method per year. Methods are classified by their effectiveness as commonly used into:

• very effective (0–0.9 pregnancies per 100 women)
• effective (1–9 pregnancies per 100 women)
• moderately effective (10–19 pregnancies per 100 women)
• less effective (20 or more pregnancies per 100 women).

For details on the mechanism of action and effectiveness of different contraceptive methods, click here .

WHO response

Achieving universal access and the realization of sexual and reproductive health services will be essential to fulfil the pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that “no one will be left behind”. It will require intensified support for contraceptive services, including through the implementation of effective government policies and programmes.

WHO is working to promote contraception by producing evidence-based guidelines on safety and service delivery of contraceptive methods and on ensuring human rights in contraceptive programmes. WHO assists countries to adapt and implement these tools to strengthen contraceptive policies and programmes. Additionally, WHO participates in developing new contraceptive technologies to and leads and conducts implementation research for expanding access to and strengthening delivery contraceptive information and services .

1.  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Family Planning 2022: Meeting the changing needs for family planning: Contraceptive use by age and method. UN DESA/POP/2022/TR/NO. 4 ( https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/files/documents/2023/Feb/undesa_pd_2022_world-family-planning.pdf ).

2.  United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). Estimates and Projections of Family Planning Indicators 2022.

3.  United Nations Population Division: www.population.un.org/dataportal/home ( https://population.un.org/dataportal/home . Accessed May 17, 2023).

4.  Cleland J, Conde-Agudelo A, Peterson H, Ross J, Tsui A. Contraception and health. Lancet. 2012;380(9837):149-156. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60609-6

5.  United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2020). World Family Planning 2020 Highlights: Accelerating action to ensure universal access to family planning (ST/ESA/SER.A/450).

• Contraception
• Mechanism of action and effectiveness of different contraceptive methods

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Why is Family Planning Important?

by Kim Martin | Jul 15, 2024

Module 1: What Is Family Planning?

Adama , 25, has three children born in rapid succession, and finances are precarious., seila , 16, dropped out of school when she became pregnant and dreams of education., gaspard , 45, had a vasectomy because family planning is not just for women., access to family planning information and services empowers adama, seilia and gaspard  –  and millions more people like them –  to achieve their reproductive intentions., definition: family planning allows people to determine freely and responsibly the number of children, if any, and the spacing of births. it is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and by treating infertility..

Family planning supports:

• Exercising bodily autonomy: FP reinforces people’s rights to determine the number and spacing of their children.
• Improving maternal health outcomes : Contraception decreases the health risks of unintended pregnancy and recourse to abortion. Birth spacing reduces the maternal and infant mortality rate.
• Engaging men and boys: Men and boys can be clients, partners and champions for sexual and reproductive health.
• Dual protection : Condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
• Keeping girls in school : FP enables people, particularly women, to actively participate in social and economic life, increasing income and education.
• Linking to other services : Integrated FP services also address HIV and other STIs, post-abortion and post-rape care. For many people, FP services offer an entry point to a fuller range of reproductive health services.

Family planning’s impact is far-reaching:

• More than half of all abortions occurring in developing countries are unsafe, and fewer unsafe abortions would lead to fewer maternal deaths and injuries. Adolescent pregnancy is a leading cause of death for girls.
• Birth spacing saves lives, especially in the critical first 28 days, by reducing the risk of premature and low-weight babies and improving nutrition.
• Unintended pregnancies, which constitute half of all pregnancies , lead to reduced education and labor participation, as well as increased vulnerability to poverty.

Did you know?

• Unintended pregnancies are not the same as unwanted pregnancies.
• Pregnant individuals are not the same as mothers.
• Family planning must always be voluntary.
• Family planning is more than contraception.

Since the 1960s, the use of contraception globally has skyrocketed. As of 2023, about 60% of couples are using a modern method, or 748 million women, and more than 1.1 billion want to use family planning.

Far-reaching benefits

Family planning improves lives with benefits for individuals, their communities and their countries. It enhances women’s participation in society, and promotes equality between men and women, improves the socioeconomic status of women and their families, and allows more resources for each child. It increases education, skills and work, gender equality, and health. It also relieves economic, social, and environmental pressures to increase resilience.

257 million women globally who want to avoid pregnancy are not using a safe, modern method of contraception.

Half of all pregnancies are unintended – 121 million each year – meaning they are unplanned or mistimed.

Family planning can prevent up to one-third of maternal deaths.

For every $1 invested in family planning and maternal health, countries save over $8 – it’s a development best buy

Key Resources

• Adding It Up : Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Seeing the Unseen : The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy, UNFPA State of World Population 2022
• World Health Organization web pages on adolescent pregnancy and family planning/contraception

FP Basics Mini-Course

Module 2: Technical Topics

Module 3: At the Local Level

Module 4: Family Planning Resources

Recent news.

• Webinar Highlights Successful Strategies in Financing Family Planning in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda July 26, 2024
• From Tragedy to Advocacy: One Nurse’s Mission to Transform Postpartum Family Planning in Tanzania July 10, 2024
• TCI Supports City-Led Efforts in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, to Battle Teen Pregnancy with Improved Data Collection and Community Action July 3, 2024
• TCI’s Latest Animated Video Shows How to Implement Francophone West Africa’s Universal Referral Intervention July 2, 2024
• TCI’s E-Data Quality Assessment Tool in Nigeria Is a Game Changer for Improving Quality of FP Data June 24, 2024
• Community Health Extension Worker in Borno State Expands Her Impact by Improving Family Planning Data Documentation June 11, 2024
• Lessons Learned from TCI’s Advocacy Efforts for Local Government Financing of Family Planning Programs in Kenya June 4, 2024
• A New Cadre of TCI Master Coaches Are Behind a Data Quality Revolution in Pakistan’s Karachi Central District May 30, 2024
• Baguio City, Philippines, Significantly Reduces Adolescent Birth Rate After Making Health Services More Adolescent-Friendly May 28, 2024
• GHSP Supplement Details TCI’s Experience Scaling Up Family Planning and AYSRH Services through Supported Local Governments May 22, 2024

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Essays on Family Planning

Contraception and Beyond: The Health Benefits of Services Provided at Family Planning Centers

Reproductive rights are under attack. Will you help us fight back with facts?

• A large and growing body of literature explores the health benefits related to services received at family planning clinics.

• Research indicates that family planning, including planning, delaying and spacing pregnancies, is linked to improved birth outcomes for babies, either directly or through healthy maternal behaviors during pregnancy.

• Contraceptive methods have a range of benefits other than their primary purpose of pregnancy prevention. Contraception reduces pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality, reduces the risk of developing certain reproductive cancers, and can be used to treat many menstrualrelated symptoms and disorders.

• In addition to contraception, a range of other beneficial health services are available to clients at family planning clinics. Services to prevent, screen for and treat diseases and conditions such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV and cervical cancer, as well as to address intimate partner violence, benefit both female and male clients who visit these clinics.

• Because not all women have equal access to the many benefits of contraception and other health services, there is more work to be done in implementing programs and policies that advance contraceptive access and improve health outcomes for all women.

United States

• Contraception : Publicly Funded Family Planning
• Northern America : United States

Family Planning Essay Examples and Topics

Gibbs’ reflective cycle, abortions: causes, effects, and solutions.

• Words: 1163

Home Birth: Pros and Cons

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Stages of Pregnancy

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Rh Incompatibility: The Case Study

Family planning: hospital birth or home birth.

• Words: 1391

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Causes and Consequences

Contraception methods and devices, test tube babies: medical analysis, termination of unwanted pregnancy.

• Words: 1699

Maternal Mortality Among Minority Women

• Words: 1419

Neonatal Care: Thermoregulation

• Words: 1273

Perinatal, Infant and Child Mental Health

• Words: 1804

Child Birth at Home and in the Hospital

Abortion is too complex to feel all one way about, teratogen alcohol exposure in pregnant women, women, infants, and children program, prenatal yoga: description, aspects, and benefits.

• Words: 2197

Designer Babies Creation in Genetic Engineering

• Words: 2213

Stress During Pregnancy: Negative Implications

Male infertility and its causes, home visitation programs for pregnant women in rural west virginia, management of rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy.

• Words: 1672

Fertilization and Pregnancy Process

Japan’s childbirth delivery system.

• Words: 4184

Premature Childbirth and How Social Conditions Influence Them

• Words: 1501

Risks Analysis in Advanced Maternal Age

• Words: 1164

Delivery Methods and Conditions

• Words: 1075

The Maternal-Child Health Worldwide

Protecting the unborn babies: programs for pregnant and parenting women, infant mortality rates and how to minimize them, how adoption and surrogacy are limited to the rich.

• Words: 2010

Physical Exercise During Pregnancy

Social aspects of teenage pregnancy.

• Words: 1376

An Opinion on Contraception for Teenagers

• Words: 1709

A Family-Centered Cesarean Birth: Experience and Bonding

• Words: 1132

Physical and Mental Effects of Childbirth

• Words: 1402

Activity During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression

Preterm labor during covid-19, potential problems with pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy and preventive measures, uterine fibroids in a young asian female patient, low birth weight effects, biomedical technologies and natural family planning, engaging mobile apps in family planning, prenatal and postpartum care interventions.

• Words: 1177

Iron, Omega-2, and Folic Acid Intake During Pregnancy

Adolescent pregnancy scenario.

• Words: 1720

Interventions to Reduce Maternal Deaths

• Words: 1667

Abortion Trends in the United States

The perception of a midwife and its impact.

• Words: 1122

Teen Pregnancy Care Coordination

• Words: 1469

Aspects of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Early teen pregnancy as population health problem.

• Words: 1618

Teenage Pregnancy and Quality of Care

• Words: 1453

Midwives’ Assistance Regarding Women’s VBAC Decision-Making

• Words: 2245

The Issue of African American Women Who Die During Labor

Abortion on the grounds of disability, environmental impacts during pregnancy.

• Words: 1197

Quantitative Blood Loss in Obstetric Hemorrhage

• Words: 1217

Infertility: Causes, Population Affected, and Treatment

Pregnancy and nutritional risk factors.

• Words: 1099

Black Maternal Health, Safe Pregnancies and Childbirth

The nurse’s role in pregnancy and child health planning, abortion and its physical and psychological effects.

• Words: 2042

Ovulation Disorder, Menarche and Menopause

Do we need to legalize abortions, an unnecessary barrier to adolescent obstetrical care, the issue of impaired fertility and its treatment, preventing infertility in couples, the pregnancy-induced hypertension, maternal and infant health: smoking prevention strategies, planned parenthood takes on live action, impactful policy for child and family health practitioners, monique and the mango rains book by kris holloway.

• Words: 2035

Aspects of Care of a Pregnant Female

Family planning individual case critique.

• Words: 1195

In Vitro Fertilization & Embryo Transfer

Breastfeeding health teaching project.

• Words: 1690

Prenatal Development: When Does a Human Life Begin?

Discussion of abortions: advantages and disadvantages.

• Words: 1392

The Importance of Parenting Aspects

Heart conditions during pregnancy, breastfeeding in young mothers.

• Words: 1725

Embryonic Stem Cells and Nuclear Transfer

The use of alcohol during pregnancy, investigations of recurrent miscarriages.

• Words: 1762

Ways to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in New Jersey

• Words: 1506

Shaving and Clipping of Pubic Hair for Expectant Women During Child Birth

Maternal healths at three periods of pregnancy, women’s life stories: maori sudden infant death, variability in hospital care of rape victims, the depiction of birth in reality tv show.

• Words: 1433

Infertility Issue: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Culturally sensitive caring in healthcare.

• Words: 1326

The Benefits of Declining an Abortion Procedure

• Words: 1190

Multiple Gestation and Its Effects on Mother and Fetus

• Words: 1227

Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Its Effect on Mother and Fetus

• Words: 1112

Renal Failure and Pregnancy

• Words: 1157

Hypothesis Testing: Child’s Intelligence Is Not Affected if Their Mothers Have German Measles

• Words: 1129

Rh Factor: The Effect on Pregnancy

Analgesia and anesthesia for the breastfeeding mother.

• Words: 1165

Problems of the Female Reproductive Tract

Teen pregnancy and the means to address it properly: bringing the rates of young mothers down, birth control on the level of individual woman, evaluation plan: breastfeeding promotion plan, planned home births: challenges midwives face, home vs. medical births: comparative analysis.

• Words: 2219

Pregnancy and Proliferative Activity of the Ovarian Surface Epithelium and Follicles

The breastfeeding practices, benefits of 3d/4d ultrasound in prenatal care.

• Words: 1356

The Syllabus for a Training Manual

• Words: 1018

Health and Medicine: Atopic Dermatitis

• Words: 1024

Reproductive Health Access During Covid-19

• Words: 1281

Benefits of Abortion Overview

The colonial legacy of the offenses against the person act in jamaica, west indies.

• Words: 1853

Should Women Sell Their Eggs?

• Words: 1373

Maternal Hemorrhage in the NYC

• Words: 3063

Postpartum Depression: Statistics and Methods of Diagnosis

The risks of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

At 7 billion, realizing the economic benefits of family planning

Cristian baeza.

With the 7 billionth baby joining the planet, many of us are rightly concerned about the challenges posed by a growing population and its impact on health care, climate change, food security, jobs, and poverty.

Here at the World Bank, we’ve been talking recently about the critical link between population change and economic growth. In some countries, where falling fertility rates have led to expanding working-adult populations and a smaller proportion of dependent children, the economic and social impact has been transformative.

For example, Thailand’s Minister of Finance said at a Bank panel last month that after his country introduced a national family planning policy in the 1960s, more women had the time and opportunity to access education, and take jobs in manufacturing and services. This shift was matched by greater government investment in health, education, gender equality, and skills training for women and the growing young population, together with reforms improving the country investment climate, all resulting in a generation of healthier, more educated and more productive citizens.

As a result, people’s opportunities and quality of life improved. This way, Thailand put in place long-term policies to ensure economic benefit from its demographic transition—it harnessed the “demographic dividend.”

But Thailand isn’t alone. Other countries, such as Indonesia and South Korea, have followed similar paths.

Governments have found that, the more rapid the pace of fertility decline, the more favorable the ratio of young dependents to productive workers to potentially realize the dividend. But there is a short window of opportunity during which fertility and dependency ratios fall to invest in education and health care, and to create job opportunities to benefit from the demographic transition.

Failure to address high fertility with large and growing population cohorts results in unsustainable health care and schooling costs and lags in economic growth, and may increase the risk of social and political unrest. But, addressing high fertility is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to harness the demographic dividend.

To do so, countries also need to invest in new generations and create an environment conducive to good jobs.

Greater investment and policy efforts to reduce the barriers to family planning and reproductive health services (including availability of contraceptives and services, as well as empowering women to access them) is essential if the demographic dividend is to materialize at all. This is a priority for the Bank in our Reproductive Health Action Plan .

So let’s treat this milestone as an opportunity.  In a world of 7 billion, if we empower women to plan for their families, if we invest wisely in women’s and children’s health and education, if we create the conditions for good jobs, the demographic dividend is there for the taking.

Slideshow: At 7 Billion Mark, Reproductive Health Critical

World Development Report on Gender

Getting To Equal: Promoting Gender Equality through Human Development

World Bank Reproductive Health Action Plan

World Bank and Labor Markets

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Home > Books > Studies in Family Planning

Introductory Chapter: Family Planning: Past, Present, and Future

Published: 14 September 2022

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.104217

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Studies in Family Planning

Edited by Zouhair Odeh Amarin

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Author Information

Zouhair o. amarin *.

• Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Mahmoud A. Alfaqih

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Background

Going back to the old world, the history of family planning covers methods that were used by ancient civilizations and cultures to prevent conception or to terminate pregnancies that were already established [ 1 , 2 ].

The ancient societies of Egypt, Greece, and Rome practiced birth control methods as, in general, they preferred small family sizes [ 1 ].

2. The past

In ancient Egypt, family planning is documented on the Elbers papyrus of 1550 BC and the Kahun papyrus of 1850 BC. These papyri describe various methods of family planning, such as the placement of lint, honey, and acacia leaves pessaries in the vagina to impede the function of seminal fluid [ 3 , 4 ].

These methods have been tested in recent times and have been shown to be effective spermicidal agents. In addition, other modalities have been advocated in ancient Egypt, such as the application of honey and sodium bicarbonate in the vagina or acacia gum to the cervix. Of interest is the fact that lactational amenorrhea was known to the ancient Egyptians and was advocated as a method of family planning [ 5 ].

Coitus interruptus was anciently referenced as a means of family planning as it was practiced by a minor biblical person in the Book of Genesis. This person spills his seed on the ground as a method of contraception with his deceased brother’s wife [ 5 ].

Generally, ancient cultures viewed the application of family planning as being the responsibility of the women, such as the use of pessaries and emulets [ 5 ].

Historians cite the legend of Minos in 150 AD which suggests that the condom was used in ancient times when he used the bladder of a goat to protect his partner from the serpents and scorpions contained in his semen [ 5 ].

In the ancient Near East and Greece, the rare silphium plant was used as an oral contraceptive, the effectiveness of which was greatly exaggerated. Other plants used for the same purpose include Queen Anne’s lace, date palm, and willow [ 6 ].

In addition to the application of cedar oil in the female genitals, coitus interruptus was practiced during the times of Aristotle and Hippocrates [ 7 ].

Other than coitus interruptus, coitus reservatus and coitus obstructus were known to the ancient Chinese and Indians, in addition to the use of oral mixtures of oil and quicksilver [ 8 ].

In the medieval period, Middle Eastern and Indian civilization in general, the medical polymaths, Al Razi and Avicenna greatly influenced the advancement of medical science. Contraceptive issues were described by them in the form of coitus interruptus and the use of pessaries of various components that included elephant dung and various plants [ 8 , 9 ].

In contrast, medieval Europe was influenced by Catholicism, where contraception was deemed immoral [ 5 ].

These practices went on until the political issues of “voluntary motherhood” and women’s emancipation movement of more recent centuries. It was in the very late eighteenth century when Thomas Malthus advocated chastity and late marriages that would result in greater economic stability and improve the standards of living without affecting Christian morality [ 10 ].

The birth control movement of the nineteenth century in Britain resulted in the reduction of the birth rate from 35.5 per 1000 in the 1870s to 29 per 1000 within 20 years [ 11 ].

The Graafian follicle was discovered and widely published in the second half of the eighteenth century. Even after van Leeuwenhoek discovered sperm around the same time (1677), about 200 years passed before it was clear to scientists how conception and early embryology worked. It was no surprise that the rhythm method was not yet understood. On the other hand, condoms and diaphragms made of vulcanized rubber were available [ 11 ].

In the United States, there had been few social and legal ramblings throughout most of the nineteenth century. This culminated in the foundation of the first birth control league in America. In synchrony, Marie Stopes clinic, the first birth control clinic in Britain was established in 1921 [ 12 ].

In the twentieth century birth control faced the issue of having to separate sexual activity from family planning, in addition to it becoming related to the feminist movement. Furthermore, there was a clash between the liberal and the conservative camps in relation to issues related to personal freedom, welfare, traditions, values, morality, religious beliefs, family size, politics, and state intervention [ 13 ].

Late in the twentieth century the combined oral contraceptive pill was developed in the United States and became commercially available in the 1960s. For termination of unplanned pregnancies, prostaglandin analogs became available in the 1970s and mifepristone in the 1980s [ 14 ].

The birth control pill literature, and the birth control pill were met with considerable legal bans in France and the Republic of Ireland as met in France, 1960s, and 1980s, respectively [ 15 ].

3. The present

Currently, among women of reproductive age worldwide, the vast majority need family planning. Women that have an unmet need for contraception greatly outnumber these using contraceptive methods [ 16 , 17 ].

Access to contraceptive methods advances health and other social benefits, especially when births are separated by 2 years or more [ 18 ].

The demand for family planning has been on the increase. It is estimated that over one billion women are current users with a contraceptive prevalence rate of about 50% [ 19 ].

There has been a slow increase in the proportion of women of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied by modern contraceptive methods. Reasons for this include various barriers such as difficulty accessing services by the young and poor, limited choice of methods, fear of side effects, bias against some methods, cultural or religious opposition, poor quality, and limited access to services [ 19 ].

4. The future

The future of family planning is highlighted by the fact that it is an important component of national health promotion and disease prevention programs. Research on improving family planning service delivery is closely related to the broader research effort that relates to the betterment of the general quality of health care that would inform practitioners about best practices. It is, therefore, necessary to foster research that results in improving family planning’s effective and timely dissemination of information to service providers.

The future of family planning revolves around the prediction that methods would become 100% effective, especially those used a day after coitus, and producing vaginal spermicides that are bactericidal and virucidal against sexually transmitted infections. Albeit, the advancement of contraceptive pills or injections for men would be influenced by the reluctance of men from certain cultures and societies to adopt such methods.

As with the health care system as a whole, the family planning future agenda should include some key aspects that relate to safety, effectiveness, patient-centered care, efficiency, and equity of health care.

• 1. Middleberg MI. Promoting Reproductive Security in Developing Countries. USA: Springer. 2003. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-306-47449-1
• 2. Tavish L. Contraception and birth control. In: Robin D (ed.). Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France, and England. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. 2007. pp. 91-92. ISBN 9781851097722
• 3. Collier. The Humble Little Condom: A History. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books. 2007. p. 371. ISBN 978-1-59102-556-6
• 4. Dag S. Contraception, Abortion and State Socialism. 2007. Available from: http://paperroom.ipsa.org/papers/paper_5428.pdf
• 5. Cuomo A. Birth control. In: O'Reilly A (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Motherhood. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. 2010. pp. 121-126. ISBN 9781412968461
• 6. Lipsey RG, Carlaw K, Bekar C. Historical record on the control of family size. Economic Transformations: General Purpose Technologies and Long-Term Economic Growth. Oxford University Press. 2005. pp. 335-340. ISBN 978-0-19-928564-8
• 7. Carrick PJ. Medical Ethics in Ancient World. Washington, DC, United States: Georgetown University Press. 2001. pp. 119-122. ISBN 978-15-89-01861-7
• 8. Middleberg MI. Promoting Reproductive Security in Developing Countries. Springer. 2003. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-306-47449-1
• 9. Bullough VL (Ed). Encyclopedia of Birth Control. Oxford: ABC-CLIO. 2001. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-57607-533-3. Retrieved September 19, 2012
• 10. Geoffrey G. Introduction to Malthus T.R. an Essay on the Principle of Population. 1798. Oxford, UK: Oxford World’s Classics reprint. Viii
• 11. Draznin YC. Victorian London’s Middle-Class Housewife: What she Did all Day (#179). Contributions in Women's Studies. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. 2001. pp. 98-100. ISBN 978-0-313-31399-8
• 12. Burke L. In pursuit of an erogamic life. In: Ardis AL, Lewis LW, editors. Women’s Experience of Modernity, 1875-1945. USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 2003. p. 254
• 13. Gordon L. The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control Politics in America. USA: University of Illinois Press. 2002. pp. 1-2. ISBN 978-0-252-02764-2
• 14. Kulier R, Kapp N, Gülmezoglu AM, Hofmeyr GJ, Cheng L, Campana A. Medical methods for first trimester abortion. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011; 2011 (III):CD 002855
• 15. Lynn H, Martin TR, Rosenwein BH, Po-chia Hsia R, Smith BG. The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures. 3rd ed. Vol. C. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's; 2009
• 16. Kantorová V, Wheldon MC, Ueffing P, Dasgupta ANZ. Estimating progress towards meeting women’s contraceptive needs in 185 countries: A Bayesian hierarchical modelling study. PLoS Medicine. 2020; 17 (2):e1003026
• 17. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Family Planning and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations. 2019. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/familyPlanning_DataBooklet_2019.pdf
• 18. Family Planning Can Reduce High Infant Mortality Levels. New York, USA: The Guttmacher Institute. 2002. Available from: https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/ib_2-02.pdf
• 19. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Family Planning 2020 Highlights: Accelerating Action to Ensure Universal Access to Family Planning (ST/ESA/SER.A/450). 2020
• 20. Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers. World Health Organization and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. USA: WHO; 2018. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260156/9780999203705-eng.pdf?sequence=1

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• Female Health
• Family Planning
• - Female Health
• - Family Planning

What is Family Planning and Why is it so Important?

Family planning (FP) is an important part of our lives that should be addressed and managed with care.

For those who are in relationships, it’s important for both partners to be fully involved in the family planning process.

What is family planning?

It’s the practice of managing, controlling and planning the number of children an individual female or couple has.

The planning includes the management of intervals between having children.

Types of family planning

There are many types of FP that can be used and I will advise you on which type is best for you.

Several factors need to be taken into consideration when selecting the right type of FP for my patients; there is no one size fits all option.

Injection contraception

A progesterone only injection can be given every 8 or 12 weeks. The progesterone prevents the release of the egg each month (Ovulation) and also thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for the sperm to move through the cervix.

There can be a delay in getting back to fertility after stopping the injection.

A hormonal patch is applied to your abdomen, buttock or upper arm once a week, starting on the first day of your menstrual cycle.

After every 3 weeks you will be patch free for one week to allow menstruation. The patch releases oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy.

Oral tablets

There are various oral contraceptive combinations and depending on your individual needs and circumstances, I will advise which will be most suited to you.

Oral contraceptives work by releasing synthetic oestrogen and progesterone in order to prevent ovulation while thickening cervical mucous in order to obstruct the sperm’s pathway towards the ovaries.

The intrauterine device is a small t-shaped device. Plastic IUDs release the hormones required to prevent egg implantation and copper IUDs release ions which kill sperm.

Copper IUDs do not release any hormones and therefore have no hormonal side-effects. Once removed, you will be able to conceive immediately.

The contraceptive implant is a tiny, thin rod that contains the hormone progesterone that is inserted under the skin in the upper arm.

It stays in for 3 to 5 years, after which it will be removed and replaced if required.

How effective are these methods?

Above methods of family planning are about 99 percent effective if used correctly.

If a couple have made a decision not to have any more children, they can decide on a permanent form of family planning such as a vasectomy in a man or a tubal ligation (surgical “tying” of Fallopian tubes) in a woman.

These are sterilization procedures and are permanent. It is safer for the man to have a vasectomy than for the female to have a tubal ligation.

It’s important to always remember that family planning does not protect the individual against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HPV (human papilloma virus) and hepatitis.

In new relationships, condoms should be used to protect against STIs even if the sexual partner is on a form of FP.

Purpose of FP

The main goal of FP is to take the necessary measures to prevent unintended pregnancies as well as to improve female health.

Because raising a child requires many resources in the form of time, money and environment, it’s essential to plan for the right time to fall pregnant.

The FP process allows you to make sure you are ready to have a child and to adequately provide for your child.

Benefits of family planning

• Parent/parents plan and prepare properly for their child
• Mothers regain their health after child birth
• Prevent unintended pregnancy (either unwanted or mistimed)
• Prevent potential health risks associated with pregnancy and child birth
• Avoid too many births for one mother
• Create time for the care and attention needed to raise a healthy child
• Create time for partners to spend together both before and after child birth
• Prevent maternal and new born mortality

Dr Fatima Parker – General Practitioner in Claremont

I graduated at University of Cape Town in 1998 and have many years of experience as a general practitioner.

I also do pap smears as well as treatment and counselling regarding sexually transmitted infections.

For further counselling or advice on the best form of family planning for you, please contact me or feel free to make an appointment to see me at my new rooms at unit 9 Draper Square, Claremont .

MakatiMed 24/7 OnCall : +632 8888 8999

Responsible Parenthood: 18 Family Planning Methods You Should Know About

• September 18, 2020

Parenthood is an experience unlike any other. Anyone who is dreaming of building his/her own family someday should know that maintaining the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of the child will be one of his/her biggest responsibilities. Unfortunately, not all children can experience the privilege of growing up in an ideal family environment. Intimacy is vital for a couple, but unexpected pregnancies can severely affect relationships, bring about difficulties in a child’s upbringing, and cause various complications in the future. To steer clear of these consequences, family planning is crucial. Practice responsible parenthood to ensure the well-being of children. To help couples have a long, happy, and healthy family life, the guide below will discuss the different types of family planning methods.

It has been years since former President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. As of 2019, contraceptive use in the Philippines stands at  40% ,  which is still a long way to go from the government’s goal of 65% by 2020. To reach this milestone, health and medical professionals must educate the public about family planning and responsible parenthood.

Thanks to advancements in medical technology, people now have access to different types of family planning methods. However, most people are unaware of these innovations and unconsciously limit themselves to condoms, medication such as birth control pills, and risky measures like withdrawal.

At the same time, they are unaware of how to properly perform these methods and end up getting an unplanned pregnancy. 

For the road to parenthood to go smoothly, family planning is a must. The guide below will discuss 18 family planning methods available today.

1. Abstinence –  Pregnancy cannot happen without intercourse. Complete disengagement from all forms of sexual activity is the most straightforward measure of avoiding it. 

2. Birth Control Implant –  The birth control implant is administered by a health professional. The doctor will inject hormones called progestin into the arm of the woman to prevent pregnancy for a few years.

3. Birth Control Pills –  These are packs of hormone medication ingested by females daily. Available in pharmacies, these hormone-filled pills are designed to stop fertility.

4. Birth Control Patch –  It is a wearable contraceptive that contains estrogen and progestin. Once worn and absorbed by the body, the hormones thicken the mucus of the cervix to hinder ovulation.

5. Birth Control Shot –  A series of hormonal injections that prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus; these shots will only be effective if they are administered every three months.

6. Birth Control Sponge –  A soft plastic inserted inside the vagina before intercourse; the sponge covers the cervix and prevents the sperm from reaching the egg.

7. Birth Control Vaginal Ring –  It is a small flexible ring inserted inside the vagina that stops sperm cells from merging with an egg.

8. Breastfeeding –  Due to the secretion of specific hormones, women who are breastfeeding generally do not ovulate. Engaging in intercourse during this period  under certain conditions  will prevent unplanned pregnancies.

9. Cervical Cap –  It is a small and soft device made out of silicone inserted inside the vagina.

10. Diaphragm –  Similar to the cervical cap, the diaphragm is a cup-shaped device designed to cover the cervix.

11. Internal/Female Condom –  It is a soft and elastic pouch inserted inside the vagina that creates a barrier against sperm. The outer ring covers the vaginal opening.

12. Intrauterine Device (IUD) –  It is a tiny, T-shaped plastic device inserted in the uterus and is one of the most effective contraceptive methods. This device impairs the movement of sperm cells within the vaginal canal and prevents them from reaching the ovary.

13. Male Condom –  This thin, elastic, and stretchable cover is one of the most common and widely available contraceptives. This is worn on the penis during intercourse to prevent the sperm from meeting the egg.

14. Rhythm Method –  Also known as the calendar method, this requires couples to abstain from sexual activity during fertile periods of the female.

15. Spermicide –  It comes in the form of a gel or cream that is applied to the vagina before intercourse. Usually paired with other devices such as a cervical cap, this product contains properties that eliminate sperm.

16. Sterilization –  It is a surgical procedure performed on females that can temporarily or permanently close the fallopian tubes to prevent ovulation.

17. Vasectomy –  A surgical operation performed on males that cuts tubes inside the scrotum; this permanent contraception for men prevents sperm from leaving the body. ​ 18. Withdrawal –  It is the process of pulling out the penis from the vagina before ejaculation, preventing sperm from reaching the egg during intercourse.

Benefits of Family Planning

The main benefit of family planning is that it helps governments regulate the population of the country. By adding  sexual education  (sex ed) to the curriculum, teens can be taught early on about sexual responsibility and the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. While sex ed is taught in developed nations, developing countries have a lot of catching up to do.

Given that the Philippines is home to over  100 million  people, family planning is the best way to mitigate the consequences brought upon by overpopulation. Since sex ed in the country is limited, it is estimated that  200,000  out of 2 million births in the Philippines are from teenage pregnancies. To prevent this statistic from rising, spreading awareness is the key.

In a household setting, family planning can bring about many benefits. Bearing a child is a huge responsibility, and being financially unprepared can compromise the short- and long-term security and stability of the family. In terms of health, planning a partner’s pregnancy with the help of medical professionals will also help prevent health complications.

From an emotional standpoint, family planning can strengthen the bond of a couple. The journey of pregnancy to giving birth in a  delivery room  is no easy feat, and the process of raising a child may be one of the biggest tests in a couple’s relationship. Practicing responsible parenthood by planning together will undoubtedly fortify the union in the years to come. 

Practice Responsible Parenthood

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Understanding The Importance of Family Planning In Your Marriage

Angela Welch is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern from Valparaiso,IN. She earned her Master of Arts in Marriage and... Read More

Rachael Pace inspires with motivational articles on loving partnerships. She encourages making room for love and facing challenges together.

In This Article

While searching the Internet, one particular image about the importance of family planning rightfully struck the chord with me.

This image was posted on World Population Day to drive home the point, ‘family planning is a human right.’ The image, which featured our planet Earth, carried a strong message – Storage Almost Full!!! Manage your settings before Earth runs out of space.

We can pay more to expand our storage! pic.twitter.com/ekJrDSOuzV — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 11, 2018

Such images or messages compel us to think once again, why is family planning important? Consider this message as a slogan about the importance of family planning.

It is something that you give little thought to until you are at the point of thinking out the best types of family planning firsthand. 

For so many couples who go through the process, they had no idea about the true importance of family planning or the fact that it was even such a long journey. 

But, unintended pregnancy rates are pretty high in the U.S., and nearly 40% of men, aged 35 to 39 years, in the same country, need family planning.  

There are family planning services available in countries like the USA that cater to a couple’s inquiries pertaining to family and family planning. In fact, nearly 42% of women, aged between 15 and 44, had sought family planning services , according to the National Survey of Family Growth way back in the year 2002. 

So, before delving deeper into understanding the benefits of family planning, it is important to clear doubts about the purpose of family planning in the first place.

Importance of family planning

Family planning is a streamlined process by which couples can decide their desired number of children they wish to have and also determine the spacing of pregnancies . 

Until the 20th century, abstinence was the only way out to prevent unwanted or space out pregnancies . 

Fortunately for the new millennials and generation z, organizations like WHO have spread the importance of family planning to every nook and corner of the world. They orchestrated many programs explaining the importance of family planning in developing countries.

You may assume that once you decide that you are ready to have a baby, then you just begin trying. But there are advantages of family planning in the long run. Family planning has untold benefits not only for the health of the mother and her child but also for the world at large.

Advantages of family planning

How important is family planning?

The importance of family planning lies mostly in preventing pregnancy-related health risks in women. 

Apart from that, reducing infant mortality rates , curbing sexually transferred diseases like HIV/AIDS, and putting a lid on adolescent pregnancies are few other benefits obtained from family planning.

Considering the bigger picture, family planning advises people to come together and practice a check on unsustainable population growth to negate the undesirable impact of overpopulation on the country’s economy, and the world’s environment.

Also, proper planning for a family empowers couples to make informed choices not only about their sexual and reproductive health, but also, to cater to the financial needs of the family and proper education of their single child . 

It’s time to consider these points and happy family planning to decide on what is right for the two of you.

Different types of family planning

There are a variety of different types of family planning and approaches . 

Some couples may just “wing it” and see what happens, but that could take a while and mean that you have no control over the process. Some couples put much more thought into family planning methods based upon their culture or religion. 

There is truly no right or wrong here, and therefore it’s up to you to decide what will be best for you in terms of the importance of family planning or the family planning methods that you utilize.

Understanding the importance of family planning is not the end of the journey. You must understand the different types by which you can plan your family and contribute towards the betterment of the environment globally.

Following are different types of family planning you can consider looking into – 

• Hormonal – Hormonal methods, which include pills, injections, and implants prevent eggs from being released from the ovaries, restrict the entry of sperm into the uterus by thickening cervical mucus, and negates implantation of fertilized egg by thinning the uterus lining. 
• Barrier – Physical devices such as condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges prevent the sperm from entering the uterus and reaching the egg. Such devices have very few side-effects.
• IUD – IUD or intrauterine device is made up of plastic or copper, which is small in size and can be inserted into the uterus by a trained healthcare professional. The purpose of this device is to create a hostile environment for sperm.
• Sterilization – Surgeries like Vasectomy or Tubectomy are permanent and are suitable for those couples who have no further intention of expanding their family. Such surgeries do not have significant health side-effects.
• Natural – The natural methods do not require the use of any external devices or medicines. E.g., calendar/rhythm method, lactational amenorrhea, and so on. 
• Emergency – Pills and intrauterine devices are used to avoid pregnancy after having unprotected sex.

Also, read – The ultimate family planning guide with faqs

Thinking this through together

Above all, you want to know when the time is right. While nothing will be perfect, as you consider the types of family planning that you will use as a couple, be sure that your opinion is also taken into consideration and when both of you are ready.

You want to be sure that you are on the same page and that you are ready to take this huge next step together as a couple—it is a really exciting one and if you consider the true importance of family planning, even if it’s a bit more informal, then you can enjoy this for all that it is.

Having children is truly one of life’s greatest joys, just be sure that you have talked through it altogether and that you have considered the advantages of family planning and how you will embrace this in your relationship . 

It all begins with the two of you and then it grows from there. 

It is about much love and great dedication that a family even comes about, so consider which method of family planning works best for you!

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Rachael Pace is a noted relationship writer associated with Marriage.com. She provides inspiration, support, and empowerment in the form of motivational articles and essays. Rachael enjoys studying the evolution of loving partnerships Read more and is passionate about writing on them. She believes that everyone should make room for love in their lives and encourages couples to work on overcoming their challenges together. Read less

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Family Planning Evidence-Based Resources

Check out these evidence-based resources (EBRs) to learn about proven, science-based methods to improve health and prevent disease. Use EBRs to develop programs and policies that are informed by evidence on what's effective, replicable, scalable, and sustainable.

Evidence-based resources related to Family Planning (8)

• Update to U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use: Self-Administration of Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
• HIV, Other STIs, and Teen Pregnancy: Group-Based Comprehensive Risk Reduction Interventions for Adolescents
• HIV, Other STIs, and Teen Pregnancy: Youth Development Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors in Adolescents Coordinated with – Community Service
• US Selected Practice Recommendations (US SPR) for Contraceptive Use, 2016
• US Medical Eligibility Criteria (US MEC) for Contraceptive Use, 2016
• Evidence from the HHS Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review
• Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
• Providing Quality Family Planning Services: Recommendations of CDC and the U.S. Office of Population Affairs

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Counselling for Maternal and Newborn Health Care: A Handbook for Building Skills. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013.

Counselling for Maternal and Newborn Health Care: A Handbook for Building Skills.

12 family planning counselling.

• What is in this session?

It is important to help women and their partners to gain increased control over their reproductive health. One of the main ways you can do this is through counselling on family planning methods during late pregnancy, the postpartum and the post-abortion periods.

This session only provides an introductory overview on family planning counselling. If necessary and where possible, you should refer women to see a trained family planning provider and/or use family planning support materials, such as the WHO ‘Decision-Making Tool for Family Planning Clients and Providers’.

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/family_planning/9241593229/en/index.html

• What skills will I develop?
• Providing information that builds on existing knowledge
• Facilitating shared problem-solving and decision-making
• Tailoring to specific family planning needs.

• What am I going to learn?

By the end of this session you should be able to:

• Assess the family planning needs of individual women
• Communicate information on the importance of birth spacing and on family planning method use.
• Communicate information on the importance of family planning in the postpartum and post-abortion periods.
• Birth spacing and postpartum family planning

Family planning is about deciding how many children you choose to have and when you want to have them (timing of pregnancies and birth spacing). The recommended interval before attempting the next pregnancy is at least 24 months in order to reduce risks to the mother and infant. A woman can become pregnant within several weeks after birth if she has sexual relations and if she is not breastfeeding exclusively. It is important that as a health worker you discuss the importance of family planning and birth spacing, and help couples in choosing the contraceptive method that is right for them.

The role of family planning counselling is to support a woman and her partner in choosing the method of family planning that best suits them and to support them in solving any problems that may arise with the selected method. During late pregnancy, after giving birth and after an abortion, it is important that the woman or the couple receives and discusses correct and appropriate information so that they can choose a method which best meets their needs. If a woman, preferably with her partner, is able to make an informed choice, she is more likely to be satisfied with the method chosen and continue its use.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BIRTH SPACING AND FAMILY PLANNING

• Delaying having children can give people the opportunity to complete education or further studies
• Waiting to become pregnant at least 24 months after birth can lead to health benefits for the mother and baby.
• Spacing births allows the mother to recover physically and emotionally before she gets pregnant again, and faces the demands of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
• Limiting the number of children in a family means more resources for each child and more time for the parents to dedicate to each child.
• Family planning can also help couples in a sexual relationship not to be worried about the woman getting pregnant.
• STIs including HIV/AIDS can also be prevented with correct and consistent use of condoms.
• Younger women (adolescents) can delay pregnancy until their bodies are mature and they are ready in terms of their life course.
• Older women (over 35) can prevent unwanted pregnancies that are often risky for their health and can lead to complications for both mothers and infants.

When to counsel on birth spacing

You should begin discussing family planning during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester, after birth and in the immediate postpartum period. Pregnant women need to know that if they are not exclusively breastfeeding they can get pregnant as soon as four weeks after the birth of their baby, even if they have not yet started their menstrual cycle. Several methods of family planning can be started immediately after birth, but others may need to be delayed if the woman is breastfeeding.

If the woman wants female sterilization or an Intrauterine Device (IUD) inserted immediately after childbirth, she should inform her birth attendant and plan to give birth in a health facility.

Advise women about the benefits of using breastfeeding as a family planning choice, known as the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM). LAM provides protection when the following three requirements are met:

• the woman is exclusively breastfeeding a baby, day and night
• during the first six months after birth and
• her menstrual periods have not returned.

Exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby is not given any other food or drink, not even water. She or he is only given breast milk. See Session 13 for more information on breastfeeding.

Once the baby reaches six months, or receives complementary foods or the mothers' periods have returned, she should use another family planning method. Before this time she needs to start thinking about what method she will use after LAM.

Counselling a woman on family planning after an abortion

When advising a woman how to care for herself after an abortion (see Session 9 as well), remember that it is important to discuss the use of a family planning method to prevent another unwanted pregnancy. Explain that she can become pregnant as soon as two weeks after an abortion if she begins to have sexual relations. A woman who has recently experienced an induced or spontaneous abortion should wait at least six months before another pregnancy to reduce risks to her health and to her future baby.

You can support her and her partner in choosing a method that meets their needs:

• If she has no post-abortion complications or infection, she can safely use any family planning method, and can start all methods immediately post-abortion (except for the natural calendar method, when she should wait for 3 months).
• If an infection is present or suspected, advise her to avoid intercourse until the infection is ruled out or fully treated. Delay female sterilization and IUD insertion until an infection is fully treated, but offer other methods to use in the meantime.
• For IUD insertion or female sterilization after a second trimester abortion, the provider may need special training because of the changed uterine size and the position of the fallopian tubes.
• If she thinks she could be at risk of getting STI/HIV, she should use a condom in all sexual relations.
• It may also be helpful to explain emergency contraception, and offer her emergency contraceptive pills to take home in case she needs them.

Male partner

The partner should be encouraged to take part in family planning counselling sessions, especially if the chosen method involves his cooperation, for example, condoms or natural methods. In some places research has shown that family planning method use is more successful when partners choose and agree upon a method together. First, ask the woman whether she would be happy for her partner to be involved. In some cases women may feel more comfortable if their partners are not present or if their partners are counselled on their own and/or by a male counsellor.

Within the community, men also need to participate in discussions on the importance and benefits of family planning and birth spacing. Men need to understand their role in reproduction so that they can share the responsibility for family planning and birth spacing. This can be done through outreach work or through discussion with men when they accompany their wives or partners to the health facility.

Partners should be encouraged to take part in family planning counselling sessions

Women with special needs.

Women with special needs may require extra time for family planning counselling. For example, adolescents who are not in a stable relationship, need emphasis placed on the importance of dual protection from STIs/HIV, as well as from pregnancy (see box next page). They may also need special assistance in obtaining the family planning method that suits them best. Women who are in violent relationships may also need special counselling and support to explore their alternatives (i.e. condom use may be unlikely). These women may also not be able to discuss family planning with their partners and may need extra help and support in using family planning methods. Women with physical disabilities may have special requirements in terms of which methods are suitable for their situation and disability. Women with severe physical or mental disabilities may have become pregnant due to rape or abuse. The family needs to be involved in such instances to ensure that this does not recur and also possibly to be involved in discussions around family planning for this woman. Women with HIV must be counselled on the necessity of using dual protection methods, even if their partner is HIV-positive, to prevent other STIs and strains of HIV developing.

Adolescents or unmarried women should also be offered family planning counselling. Sometimes this is difficult if the family or community disapproves of adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy. Explore ways you can work with adolescents, youth groups and schools to reach adolescents who may need support. Consider the counselling context, specifically any cultural norms you identified in Session 4 to help you locate any key gatekeepers in the community to help you address this topic with adolescents.

When working with a pregnant adolescent, it is particularly important to discuss birth spacing and support her in planning when she would be ready for a next pregnancy.

• Dual protection (also see Session 14 on HIV)

Correct and consistent use of condoms with another family planning method for every sexual encounter is the best way to ensure dual protection against unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS transmission.

Dual protection against both pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS, is an increasing concern for many women. You may need to counsel women and their partners about their options for dual protection.

Issues for women and their partners to consider are:

• Some people are more at risk than others (for example, those with new or multiple partners).
• Often people do not know if they or their partner has an STI as they may have no symptoms.
• A person with HIV can look and feel healthy.
• If someone is unsure about sexually transmitted infections, a test may be available.
• If you are sexually active (and are not 100% sure that your partner is not infected) then consistent and correct condom use is the only way to protect fully against STIs/HIV.
• Condoms can be used together with another method to ensure very effective protection from pregnancy and STIs.

Remember that only condoms protect against both pregnancy and STIs/HIV.

• Helping a woman to choose a method that is right for her

There is no single method of family planning which should be recommended for everyone. Family planning counselling can help a woman, and/or her partner choose which method best suits him or her.

There are various models of family planning counselling that can be applied, including the GATHER model (Greet the client, Ask about situation and needs, Tell about different methods and options, Help clients choose, Explain how to use a method, Return) or the REDI model (Rapport-building, Exploration, Decision-making, and Implementing the decision). In general, the steps or actions outlined below should be covered to counsel on family planning. To start the counselling process, remember the steps and skills outlined in Session 2 .

• you can ask if she knows about family planning, what she has heard about it, and if she knows it is important;
• explain that it is important to know that she can become pregnant soon after giving birth if she is not exclusively breastfeeding;
• you should also ask whether the woman or couple already have a family planning method in mind – those people who receive the method that they have planned for are much more likely to use it successfully. You can then help them assess if this method suits their situation and needs (e.g., Are you confident you could remember to take a pill every day?), or it may also be helpful to discuss other options in case there is a method that better suits his/her or their needs.
• plans for having more children;
• whether she and/or her partner want to use family planning;
• previous methods used and reasons for success or failure;
• experience with side-effects;
• popular beliefs about family planning and how these affect her decision to choose a particular method;
• her relationship and situation; Is she in a stable relationship? How often does she see her partner? How many partners does she have?; Is there need for dual protection from STIs, including HIV?
• her and her partner's HIV status or risk factors for HIV;
• regularity of sexual intercourse (especially for adolescents or unmarried women);
• partner's or family's views about family planning methods;
• ability to keep to routines.
• Can the method be used while breastfeeding?
• How effective is it?
• Are there any side-effects?
• Does it provide protection from STIs or HIV?
• Does it impact on sexual relations?
• How easy is it to use?
• Is it easy to stop using the method?
• Is the method reversible?
• How quickly will fertility return once method is stopped?
• Is there a need to do something before sex? (e.g. putting a condom on, inserting a diaphragm)
• Is it used continuously, or only used when needed?
• Is there a need to touch genitals?
• Check if she is eligible to use the chosen method Before giving out detailed information on method use, check if the woman is eligible to use the method. Some women who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding may be unable to use certain methods (see table below). You can also check if she is able to start using the family planning method straight away. Some health conditions may prevent a woman from using certain methods.
• What the method is and how it works
• How effective it is at preventing pregnancy
• Side-effects: what the user can expect, and what to do about them
• How to use the method correctly
• What to do in case of a mistake in the use of the method or problems (missed pills, late for injection, condom splits)
• Information on when to return to the clinic
• Signs of complications to watch out for.

The best way to check whether a woman knows how to use the method is to ask her to explain to you in her own words how to use the method. You could also ask her to demonstrate the use of certain methods such as condoms or diaphragms, or you could consider demonstrating their use to her first, asking for her to repeat back the demonstration afterwards to ensure that she has fully understood.

Table Starting family planning methods after childbirth

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If you are working in a group carry out this activity as a role-play rotating the roles. Take time in advance to come up with a number of different roles. If you are working alone, ask a colleague to observe you counselling women.

• finding out what is already known
• dispelling any myths or misunderstandings regarding contraception
• engaging the woman and her partner in interactive discussion
• filling information gaps
• discussing the woman's/couples needs
• tailoring methods to their circumstances (physical, social)
• discussing characteristics of different methods
• joint decision-making
• Get the person who will be observing you to review this session beforehand. Remember to get permission from the woman or couple for the observer to be present if you will be carrying out this activity in a real situation rather than a role-play
• Ask the observer to give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses during the counselling process using the points outlined above as a checklist. You can also refer back to Session 9 Activity 2 for a more general observer's checklist.

Because of expertise and knowledge and the respect person in the community have for this knowledge, we can sometimes inadvertently push people towards decisions that they are not ready to make or are not happy with. Skilled counsellors facilitate the process while taking a ‘back seat’ when it comes to making a decision. In other words they let the woman or couple reach their own decision. Your questioning and listening skills will help you to make accurate assessments and know where to provide guidance and where to take a step back, as people work through the information.

What did I learn?

The importance of establishing family planning during the post-abortion and postpartum periods cannot be underestimated. Providers need to work in an interactive way with women and their partners to discuss their family planning needs and to establish which methods will best satisfy their particular needs. Are you confident that you can discuss family planning issues with women and their partners during pregnancy and the postpartum period? Which skills do you need to develop and practise? Do you have access to Family Planning tools to assist you? Do you know where to refer women and their partners for specialist family planning advice?

Write down the answers to this information in your notebook, but also consider putting it together as a resource to share with your colleagues. Remember also that as you practise your counselling skills you should try and reflect on where you have improved and areas you feel you need to strengthen.

All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: tni.ohw@sredrokoob ). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: tni.ohw@snoissimrep ).

• Cite this Page Counselling for Maternal and Newborn Health Care: A Handbook for Building Skills. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013. 12, FAMILY PLANNING COUNSELLING.
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How to plan an essay: Essay Planning

• What's in this guide
• Essay Planning
• Additional resources

How to plan an essay

Essay planning is an important step in academic essay writing.

Proper planning helps you write your essay faster, and focus more on the exact question.  As you draft and write your essay, record any changes on the plan as well as in the essay itself, so they develop side by side.

One way to start planning an essay is with a ‘box plan’.

First, decide how many stages you want in your argument – how many important points do you want to make? Then, divide a box into an introduction + one paragraph for each stage + a conclusion.

Next, figure out how many words per paragraph you'll need.

Usually, the introduction and conclusion are each about 10% of the word count. This leaves about 80% of the word count for the body - for your real argument. Find how many words that is, and divide it by the number of body paragraphs you want. That tells you about how many words each paragraph can have.

Remember, each body paragraph discusses one main point, so make sure each paragraph's long enough to discuss the point properly (flexible, but usually at least 150 words).

For example, say the assignment is

Fill in the table as follows:

Next, record each paragraph's main argument, as either a heading or  topic sentence (a sentence to start that paragraph, to immediately make its point clear).

Finally, use dot points to list useful information or ideas from your research notes for each paragraph. Remember to include references so you can connect each point to your reading.

The other useful document for essay planning is the marking rubric .

This indicates what the lecturer is looking for, and helps you make sure all the necessary elements are there.

Pathways and Academic Learning Support

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• Last Updated: Feb 15, 2024 1:23 PM
• URL: https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/essay_planning

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Guest Essay

Do Politicians Realize How Difficult and Rare Immigrating to the U.S. Legally Actually Is?

By Jorge Loweree

Mr. Loweree is the managing director of programs and strategy at the American Immigration Council.

During the Republican National Convention, speakers repeatedly tried to draw a contrast between asylum seekers who’ve crossed the southern border in recent years and immigrants who’ve entered the country through other channels. As Vivek Ramaswamy put it, legal immigrants like his parents “deserve the opportunity to secure a better life for your children in America.” Others deserve deportation, “because you broke the law.”

Elected leaders like to invoke this narrative that there’s an easy, “right” and a hard, “wrong” way to immigrate to the United States, because it makes the solution for fixing our broken immigration system seem simple. We just need more law-abiding people to get in the right line.

But the reality that is all too clear to immigrants navigating our byzantine system, and the lawyers and advocates who try to help them, is that there is no line to get into for a vast majority of people who wish to come to the United States. If the government is serious about securing the border, we have to make it easier for people to come through legal channels.

The U.S. admits a tiny fraction of people who want to immigrate

Number of people who said they want to immigrate or who legally applied, compared to those granted permanent residence

158 million people would like to immigrate to the U.S.

32 million people actually began the application process in 2021

family members

Only 900,000 people were allowed to enter legally

Sources: Gallup, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute. The number of people who would like to immigrate is taken from a 2018 Gallup poll.

Our system of legal immigration isn’t set up to reward “good” choices. It is littered with arbitrary caps, bureaucratic delays and redundant processes that wring years of effort and money out of the precious few who qualify.

The current system is largely designed to favor those who have family ties here: namely, spouses, parents and adult children who are U.S. citizens and spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.

For some countries, the wait time to get a family-based visa stretches into centuries

Estimated wait time for family-sponsored visas in capped categories as of 2021

Visa for an unmarried adult child

Philippines

Married adult child

Sibling of adult citizens

YEARS TO PROCESS

All other countries

Sources: U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute. “All other countries” represents the average.

The green card approval rate is at a historic low point

Share of legal immigrants that were approved for permanent residency

GREEN CARD APPROVAL RATE

Until the 1920s, almost anyone could arrive in the U.S. and be granted permanent residency.

Rates rose during the 1960s when Congress added new visa categories and exceptions to allow more people to immigrate.

They fell in the 1980s after the creation of the green card lottery, as many more people began applying.

Sources: U.S. Department of State, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Note: Data was originally compiled in “ Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible ” by David Bier for the Cato Institute.

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