Invest in family planning, says Marie Stopes
Marie Stopes country director Mr Vadacanthara Chandrashekar. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- "Currently 38 per cent of married women are using contraceptive methods, 31 per cent are using modern method, whereas 7 per cent use traditional methods, roughly the same was reported in the 2015/16 TDHS," he said.
Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Women's Day (IWD) Marie Stopes has called various stakeholders to significantly invest in family planning to reduce maternal death, early pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
Marie Stopes country director Mr Vadacanthara Chandrashekar said this at the media briefing which is a continuation of its effort to amplify issue related to Sexual Reproductive Health and Right.
"Women and girls must have SRHR to help them participate in the economic development of the country," he said.
According to him, the recent Tanzania Demographic Health Survey 2022 (TDHS) has shown that 22 per cent of women aged 15–19 have ever been pregnant compared to 27 per cent reported in the 2015–16 TDHS. 2 per cent of women aged 15–19 have had a pregnancy loss due to either stillbirth, miscarriage, or induced abortion.
"Currently 38 per cent of married women are using contraceptive methods, 31 per cent are using modern method, whereas 7 per cent use traditional methods, roughly the same was reported in the 2015/16 TDHS," he said.
However, among sexually active, unmarried women, use of any modern methods has decreased from the previous TDHS to 36 per cent in 2022.
Mr Chandrashekar said: This indicates there is huge gap and high need of planning when you provide family planning it reduces maternal morality and a big number of women and girls can participate economic development of the country.
According to him, by collaboration with the government they have supported more than 1.6 million clients with SRHR education and services adding that this is up to by 27 per cent compared in 2021.
"Our family planning service delivered 4.7 million couples years of protection up by 19 per cent compared to 2021. This is equal to over 40 per cent of all family planning services provided the country, he said.
Marie Stopes Senior program officer Mr Geofrey Sigalla said that supporting SRHR, can help women and girls to make informed decision about their own sexual and reproductive Health and achieve their full potential.
"SRHR is critical to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG number three. Quality education gender equality, decent work and economic growth will enable achieve goals number four, five and eight,"
