State urges women to ignore family planning myths
The government has cautioned on myths and misconceptions surrounding contraceptive use in the country, saying it could reverse the gains made in family planning.
For instance, due to the uptake of contraceptives, the total fertility rate has been declining since Kenya first introduced family planning in the country in the early 1960s as a result of a rapid population boom.
Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe yesterday gave an account of the progress the country has made in slowing down population growth due to the advocacy in the use of family planning methods. “The total fertility rate (tfr) was very high, at 8 children per woman then, but as a result of introducing the programme, the tfr fell to 6 in 1990, 5 in 2000, and to 3.9 by the end of 2014,” the CS said in a speech during yesterday’s celebrations to mark the World Contraception Day in Nairobi. When you look at the 2019 national census, Kagwe noted that the fertility rate per woman had dropped further 3.4 children. “Facing an annual growth rate of three percent, the government incorporated family planning into the overall development policy in 1965,” Kagwe said through Dr Andrew Mulwa (pictured), the acting Director of Medical Services.
However, in recent times it has been noted that myths and misinformation about contraceptive use has started to erode those gains.
It emerged yesterday that women are the vessels of cultural and social myths that have permeated the society.
“According to studies done in Kenya on myths about modern contraceptives, the sources of the myths are the women themselves,” the CS said.
Factors driving myths include inadequate knowledge of modern contraceptives and some religious and cultural beliefs, according to studies with health advocacy groups.
