Family planning in Pakistan: The facts

[Che Guevara]

This is from express tribune; I got it from there facebook page. I will provide you link later on because in my conputer ET webpage giving me gateway error.....

 

[Che Guevara]

Population planning: Before you get your knickers in a twist, use the coil


ISLAMABAD:
There was a time when the public service message ‘Bachay, do hi achay’ (Kids, two are more than enough) became a household phrase in the 1960s in Pakistan. By 2012, however, it is bandied about like a joke. The reason: a population explosion.
In response to this came a parallel rise in abortions which is the method of choice for family planning instead of condoms, prophylactics, the intrauterine device, the pill, vasectomies. According to gynaecologist Dr Azra Ahsan, hardly 30% of people use contraception in Pakistan even though 96% of people are aware of it. And yet, the fertility rate is declining. “This is because of abortion, which is being misused as a means of family planning,” she pointed out at a seminar on population planning, organised by the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Saturday. About 890,000 abortions take place annually to get rid of unwanted pregnancies. Unsafe abortion is the fifth leading cause of maternal deaths in Pakistan.
“Data proves that about 43% of women do not have any reason to avoid contraception and believe that if they get pregnant, unplanned, it is ‘Allah ki marzi’ (God’s will),” Dr Ahsan said.
In Pakistan, two mothers die every hour, which, the experts say, is a weakness in the family planning service delivery system. Despite starting about 50 years ago, family planning has declined in Pakistan because of misinformation attributed to religion, disapproval from husbands or in-laws, the subordinate status of women and a lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals.
“[Thus], unwanted pregnanc[ies] may either result in high fertility, leading to a high population or in an abortion, that comes with many risks,” explained Dr Ahsan.
The good news is that 25% of Pakistanis do want family planning services but cannot get access to them. If they did get this kind of help, the country’s contraception use could go up to 55%. International health agencies recommend that there must be no pregnancy before 18 years or after 34 years of age and that a couple should space their children at least three years apart.
The choices for family planning and contraception are wide: female condoms, pills, new progestogens, hormonal vaginal ring, progesterone implants, male pills, reversible male sterilisation, intra-uterine systems and the intrauterine devices. “Of all of these, the oral contraceptive pill that has been is use for the past 50 years is still the best method,” she said. Its safety has been confirmed in one of the largest longitudinal studies involving 46,000 women over 40 years. It found that users are less likely to die prematurely of all causes, including cancer and heart diseases.
Family Planning helps prevent unwanted and high-risk pregnancies, and it also helps improve the woman’s health and lowers maternal mortality. The child who is born is wanted and valued, and has better chances of proper nutrition, care and education. Similarly, for the man, family planning means less stress on meeting the needs of a family and parents can have more time for each other. It is also beneficial for the country as there is less population, poverty and crime and increased resources and economic growth.
Dr Tasnim Ahsan, the executive director of JPMC, shared details of a pilot project of Post-Partum Insertion of Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (PPIUCD), which was successfully implemented at the hospital. The project was started by the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health and aims to target family planning right after delivery. The pilot is being carried out at JPMC and Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, where doctors insert the intra-uterine contraceptive device right after pregnancy instead of relying on the old method of asking the mother to come at a later date for discussions. Dr Laila Shah, who oversaw the project at the two hospitals, explained that in six months about 1,900 PPIUCD’s have been inserted. The main purpose of the program is to institutionalise PPIUCD as a means of family planning. Dr Shah said that although they managed 18% results instead of the targeted 30%, it still proved that it can be done. The onus of responsibility will be ultimately passed on the hospitals to continue it permanently.
“If we can do it at our hospital despite the most heavy duties and patient load there is no way other hospitals cannot as well,” said Dr Tasnim Ahsan.
Status of family planning
Pakistan is a signatory to the Program of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. Our population policy of 2002 aims to provide universal access to family planning by 2010, increase contraception use to 43% by 2006 and to 57% by 2012. Family planning was originally the responsibility of the Ministry of Health but later the Ministry of Population Welfare was created. It provides services in the public sector through Family Welfare Centres, Reproductive Health Centres, and mobile teams. The programme is managed by provincial population welfare departments. The family welfare centres are run by family welfare workers, who provide all non-surgical contraceptive services. The ministry of health plays a role through lady health workers.
Major NGOs providing family health services
Rahnuma – FP Association of Pakistan (FPAP)
National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health (NCMNH)
Association for Mothers and Newborns (AMAN)
Midwifery Association of Pakistan (MAP)
Green Star Social Marketing
Marie Stopes Society
Facts and Figures:
30% of people in Pakistan use contraception, says gynaecologist
Dr Azra Ahsan
890,000 abortions take place in Pakistan annually to get rid of unwanted pregnancies
43% of women do not have any reason to avoid contraception and believe that if they get pregnant, unplanned, it is ‘Allah ki marzi’
96% of Pakistanis have knowledge about contraception
25% of people want to use family planning services but don’t have access in Pakistan
55% is the portion of the population that could use contraception if services were improved
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2012.

 

[Peregrine]

Just yesterday, Webby said that Indians are not allowed to open threads on Pakistans social issues. Just like ,we Pakistanis cant create threads on Indian social matters. Thread reported!

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Stop being so childish, it's a good topic to discuss, regardless if an Indian posted it or not. Social issues such as this are central in having a well-balanced society.

 

[Peregrine]

Stop being so childish, it's a good topic to discuss, regardless if an Indian posted it or not. Social issues such as this are central in having a well-balanced society.

And you quit being a hypocrite! Killing baby girls is more critical to a societies life than to discuss contraceptive measures.

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

And you quit being a hypocrite! Killing baby girls is more critical to a societies life than to discuss contraceptive measures.

How am I being a hypocrite? Please, explain. The issue of abortion (yes, let's have an adult conversation and use the correct terms) is just as important as an issue if a Pakistan starts it or an Indian. Same for family planning (which isn't just contraception).

Now, I strongly believe that a strong family planning programme would greatly reduce the number of abortions in Pakistan, as families would be able to plan ahead and avoid unexpected pregnancies. At the same time, abortion in some, though unexpected pregnancies is not one of them in my opinion.

 

[Armstrong]

How am I being a hypocrite? Please, explain. The issue of abortion (yes, let's have an adult conversation and use the correct terms) is just as important as an issue if a Pakistan starts it or an Indian. Same for family planning (which isn't just contraception).

Now, I strongly believe that a strong family planning programme would greatly reduce the number of abortions in Pakistan, as families would be able to plan ahead and avoid unexpected pregnancies. At the same time, abortion in some, though unexpected pregnancies is not one of them in my opinion.

Young man what possible interest could the social problems of Pakistan hold for you ? Kashmir kii to samajhh aaatii hai but seriously 'Why Pakistan ?' !

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Young man what possible interest could the social problems of Pakistan hold for you ? Kashmir kii to samajhh aaatii hai but seriously 'Why Pakistan ?' !

Same reason any problem regarding Pakistan would concern me. Usually, when Pakistan has a major policy, it affects the Pakistani-held parts of Kashmir too. Is your attitude quite conservative to family planning or something?

 

[Armstrong]

Same reason any problem regarding Pakistan would concern me. Usually, when Pakistan has a major policy, it affects the Pakistani-held parts of Kashmir too. Is your attitude quite conservative to family planning or something?

Neither abortion ror contraceptives is going to affect Kashmir's struggle for Independence neither would any other social issue of ours !

No...I'm all for that ! I just couldn't understand why someone who wants to secede from both India & Pakistan would be interested in the 'social issues' of Pakistan for these aren't decided in GHQ or the Foreign Office for them to have any semblance of an affect on Kashmir.

 

[Peregrine]

How am I being a hypocrite? Please, explain. The issue of abortion (yes, let's have an adult conversation and use the correct terms) is just as important as an issue if a Pakistan starts it or an Indian. Same for family planning (which isn't just contraception).

Now, I strongly believe that a strong family planning programme would greatly reduce the number of abortions in Pakistan, as families would be able to plan ahead and avoid unexpected pregnancies. At the same time, abortion in some, though unexpected pregnancies is not one of them in my opinion.

Rules are rules, shouldn't be bypassed just because few individuals have rebellious genes. Secondly, by murders I meant reall murders not removal of feutus. If people of a certain country can create a big hoopla when we discuss them, so they have no right to discuss us. Simple as that!

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Neither abortion ror contraceptives is going to affect Kashmir's struggle for Independence neither would any other social issue of ours !

No...I'm all for that ! I just couldn't understand why someone who wants to secede from both India & Pakistan would be interested in the 'social issues' of Pakistan for these aren't decided in GHQ or the Foreign Office for them to have any semblance of an affect on Kashmir.

Before I go on, allow me to make two things very clear:

1. Gilgit & Baltistan is a part of Kashmir, you can dispute it all you want, it's a UN-recognized, pre-47 fact.
2. AJK Government is merely a stooge of whomever is in power in Islamabad.

Now, we've established that the administrations of both Kashmirs have no autonomy in reality. They're there to head to the orders of Pakistan's federal Government. Thus, any Pakistani initiative for family planning would extend to Kashmir, regardless of the say of the local administrations.

Also, I thoroughly disagree how social issues wouldn't effect Pakistan's foreign policy, or military capability. Having a younger population would probably result in a more pro-active, accountable foreign policy and a stronger ground-forces military.

Other than this, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to discuss Pakistan's social issues, after all, this is a forum for discussion, and one can have wide-ranging interests.

Rules are rules, shouldn't be bypassed just because few individuals have rebellious genes. Secondly, by murders I meant reall murders not removal of feutus. If people of a certain country can create a big hoopla when we discuss them, so they have no right to discuss us. Simple as that!

First of all, I agree with the first part of your post. The killing of children is an abhorrent crime and should be dealt with the maximum penalty of the law.

For the second, latter half, refer to my previous post in this thread. Thanks.

 

[Armstrong]

Before I go on, allow me to make two things very clear:

1. Gilgit & Baltistan is a part of Kashmir, you can dispute it all you want, it's a UN-recognized, pre-47 fact.
2. AJK Government is merely a stooge of whomever is in power in Islamabad.

Now, we've established that the administrations of both Kashmirs have no autonomy in reality. They're there to head to the orders of Pakistan's federal Government. Thus, any Pakistani initiative for family planning would extend to Kashmir, regardless of the say of the local administrations.

Also, I thoroughly disagree how social issues wouldn't effect Pakistan's foreign policy, or military capability. Having a younger population would probably result in a more pro-active, accountable foreign policy and a stronger ground-forces military.

Other than this, I don't see why I wouldn't be able to discuss Pakistan's social issues, after all, this is a forum for discussion, and one can have wide-ranging interests.

Family Planning like most other portfolios are in the purview of the Provinces not the Federation since the devolution of powers.

And you can quote UN resolutions incessantly if you must but the people of GB have spoken many a times that they are not a part of Kashmir. Get some of the other powers that be to pass even a cursory look at some of the other resolutions pending on Kashmir & then we'd talk about what that term constitutes or not. Either way Zardari doesn't get a call from GB asking him whether they have a policy on condoms or not !

And your attempt at pegging Kashmir with Pakistan's family policy is far fetched to put it euphemistically ! At any rate the best course of action for Pakistan would be to disengage from that hell hole once & for all ! AJK + GB stays with us...the rest of them - Thank You for 65, for 71, for Kargils, for our numerous skirmishes, for our enmity with India in perpetuity...thank you for all of that ! Had we known that the Kashmiris were a bunch of ingrates we'd never have gone down that path.

Never said you couldn't discuss it...just curious why a Kashmiri of all people who wants an Independent Kashmir would be interested in our 'social' problems !

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Family Planning like most other portfolios are in the purview of the Provinces not the Federation since the devolution of powers.

And you can quote UN resolutions incessantly if you must but the people of GB have spoken many a times that they are not a part of Kashmir. Get some of the other powers that be to pass even a cursory look at some of the other resolutions pending on Kashmir & then we'd talk about what that term constitutes or not. Either way Zardari doesn't get a call from GB asking him whether they have a policy on condoms or not !

And your attempt at pegging Kashmir with Pakistan's family policy is far fetched to put it euphemistically ! At any rate the best course of action for Pakistan would be to disengage from that hell hole once & for all ! AJK + GB stays with us...the rest of them - Thank You for 65, for 71, for Kargils, for our numerous skirmishes, for our enmity with India in perpetuity...thank you for all of that ! Had we known that the Kashmiris were a bunch of ingrates we'd never have gone down that path.

Never said you couldn't discuss it...just curious why a Kashmiri of all people who wants an Independent Kashmir would be interested in our 'social' problems !

So you've gone on this massive rant because of my political views and in the process derailed a whole thread about it.

If you really want, create another topic and I'll be more than happy to discuss all of this 'ungrateful Kashmiri' line with you, so, please do that. Otherwise, I'd rather not get a couple of infractions because somebody gets a bit too red faced when talking about family planning. (Pro tip: contraception and family planning aren't exactly the same.)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I've always supported the right to self determination (one that enlists all the options that have been touted by Kashmiris through the years), over an independent Kashmir.

 

[Kashmiri Nationalist]

Oh, and if you want to talk about the "devolution of powers" - it clearly hasn't happened in GB/AJK's case. And any family planning policy has to be national, not provincial to be effective.

 

[Imran Khan]

meri to family hi nhi hai i am the one who reduce population of pakistan