Family Planning
Its big business for those making contraceptive devices, and one of the medical advancements that has most changed our society. The more relaxed attitude to sexual intercourse in the west is surely due to the lack of consequences 9 months later thanks to pills, condoms and the like.
But the luxuries that contraception affords women (and couples) in the west is not available for women living in more deprived countries. In those countries, contraception doesn’t just mean the attitude to sex we enjoy here, but can be a matter of life or death. The maternal mortality rate is high, the demands of child rearing high in families already close to the breadline, and abuse can be rife.
So what are the barriers that have stopped the uptake in the developing world? With healthcare systems still struggling to provide the most basic care, a lack of resources is a serious issue – financially, but also with facilities, and staff training to advice women on family planning.
With the development of injections, implants and other more reliable methods than oral pills, it is hoped these can be spread to the communities of women who need them. Technologies like ultrasound to help during pregnancies are now becoming more widespread. For those overseeing the healthcare systems in these countries, it should be looked at as a saving, avoiding the costly illnesses and consequences of unsupported pregnancies and births
