Muhammad Garba
There was a mixed reaction over the importance of family planning among the women and communities in Jigawa state as the world celebrates World Contraceptive Day (WCD) 2024.
The mixed reaction was generated during an interview conducted across various communities in the state as part of the celebration of 2024 World Contraceptive Day with support from The Challenge Initiative (TCI), Development Communications Network (DevComs), and other partners in the state.
The theme for this year is “A Choice for All, Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose.”
A Tea Vendor in Dutse Capital, Malam Habibu Yakubu said, he has 4 children and also practiced child spacing which proved to him that family planning is good for family health.
Another Tea vendor, Auwalu Muhammad Maishayi, revealed that, initially he was against Family Planning but after an engagement with some group of advocates he understands the rationale behind child spacing.
“I practice child spacing, I appreciate its significance to my children and wife’s health, and above all, it is not in complicit with our cultural and spiritual belief.”
A Fura da Nono vendor, Fatima Jauro said she is aware of family planning but she never thinks of practicing it because she does not see any logic in it.
“Me I don’t believe in family planning, I am against it, it is taboo, ungodly, in fact, I never go to the hospital for antenatal or post mental, I don’t know which of my children will help me, please leave me alone.”
Mrs Rabi, a food vendor in Kudai village, said based on her understanding practicing child spacing does not mean you shall give birth to only two children, but it is a kind of medical advice that proved to be good for social, economic, and healthy growth of the child and family in general.
Talatu Musa, a housewife in Madobi village, said the contemporary social and economic challenges are so critical, therefore practicing child spacing will help to enhance the wellbeing of the family and she advised women to use it.
In Kiyawa local government, Hafsat Musa described Family Planning as one of the strategic measures to reduce the high rate of child and maternal death, tackling malnutrition and stunting rate, as well as enhancing reproductive health.
“I practice child spacing, and to me, it is not an issue of economy but the health and survival of the child and mother in a good condition, I testified it’s important to family life, so I am advising the family to adopt it.”
However other women and households interviewed across the state called on the state government and partners to strengthen the supply of contraceptive drugs and services to make it more accessible to people as the public becomes more enlightened on it.
