The Benefits of Family Planning

Key Points

• Family planning is the desire and freedom of married couples to choose the number of children they want and the spacing/timing of pregnancies.
• Family planning is important to a family and the social strength of any country or society.
• Family planning is not restricted to contraception alone.
• The benefits of family planning impact the mother, children, and the father
• Family planning is very important and beneficial to a nation or society.
• Speak to a Doctor before embarking on family planning.

Family Planning: A Powerful and Life-changing Decision

Every married couple is free to choose how many children they want to have. They are free to determine the spacing and timing of childbirth. On a closer look, the benefits of family planning can be subsumed under freedom. The freedom to choose when to have children and how many should be had.

Family planning doesn’t happen by chance. It is an intentional decision and one that every family should consider.

Why?

Because each family has different income levels, financial stability, and emotional (as well as physical) availability. When approached responsibly, family planning allows parents to be mentally and financially prepared for every child they decide to have.

So, it is not just about wanting a big family with many children running around the house playing. While the prospect of that sounds wholesome, reality is oftentimes a far stretch from expectation.

Can you take care of the children? Will you be financially, emotionally, and physically available for them?

These are questions that should spiral in your mind when starting a family. They will save you from biting off more than you can chew in the long run.

This article aims to shed light more light on the benefits of family planning on the family and the society too.

What Is Family Planning?

Family planning is a well-known terminology in the 21^st century. It involves taking into consideration the number of children a couple wishes to have, including the choice of having no children at all.

Often times when family planning is mentioned, contraceptives are the first to come to mind, and rightly so. However, family planning is not restricted to contraception alone. It is more than just using contraceptive methods.

Family planning as elaborately defined by the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System is the educational, comprehensive medical or social activities that enable individuals, including minors, to determine freely the number and spacing of their children and to select the means by which this may be achieved. (NCANDS, 2019).

Essentially, it is the desire and freedom of married couples to choose the number of children they want and the spacing/timing of pregnancies.

Family planning is gradually becoming a welcome clause amongst couples even in Nigeria.

Why is this so? One might wonder.

The overpopulated society and struggling economy have made people more conscious of the number of children they should have and also when they should have them.

Family planning is equally important to a family and the economy and social strength of any country or society. Let us look at the advantages.

Benefits of Family Planning to the Family

The Mother

Family planning hits home more for the womenfolk as they are directly and primarily involved in the whole process of birthing.

Family planning reduces maternal mortality rates by preventing high-risk and unwanted pregnancies, especially in very young women.

For mothers who have given birth five times, family planning is instrumental in helping them limit childbirth and avoid too-early or too late pregnancies. Additionally, family planning helps prevent unsafe methods of abortions for unwanted pregnancies.

A research carried out by the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital indicated that the majority (88%) of women have good knowledge of family planning, many (61%) are interested in its use but at least half of them have not used any method and current use was just 27%. (Tunde-Ayinmode, 2013).

The benefits of family planning for women are as follows;

1. The mother has enough time to recover after delivery,
2. She has enough time to focus on her career
3. She is in a better position to focus on each child and provide the needed motherly care that is critical to the early developmental stages of childhood.
4. It is the best way to prevent unplanned pregnancy.
5. It reduces serious health consequences like uterine rupture (during labour) and death.

The Children

One of the benefits of family planning is that it can save the life a child. Pregnancies that are closely spaced or ill-timed are associated with higher infant mortality rates. When the mother becomes pregnant too soon, the infant suffers abrupt weaning, increasing the risk of infection and malnutrition. This can result in low birth weight.

Therefore, children who are properly spaced tend to be well-fed and healthier than children who are closely spaced.

Lack of family planning is an attributed cause of 640,000 newborn deaths and 150,000 maternal deaths. Also, the application of family planning methods will save 600,000 children from losing their mothers annually.

So, what are the benefits of family planning for children?

1. The health of newborn babies is dependent on how healthy their mothers are.
2. They get enough affection and attention from their parents.
3. They develop better and are more psychologically stable as they grow
4. It promotes the health and well-being of newborn babies.

The Father

The father’s role in raising children is undisputable; it is therefore important that he is capable of taking on this role. How does family planning benefit a father?

1. His burden is lightened as compared to having more children than he can take care of
2. He is in a better position to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter for his children
3. The spacing of the children allows for better planning of financial resources for the education of the children.

Other benefits of family planning include;

• Family planning allows parents to give enough time and attention to their children. This fosters good family relationships.
• With family planning, women have complete control over their reproductive health and activities.
• It prevents the spread of HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• By helping families factor in the medical cost of pregnancy and delivery, children’s education, clothing, and feeding, family planning benefits families financially.
• It educates married couples and young people about reproductive and sexual health.
• It prevents pregnancy complications and unplanned pregnancy.

Benefits of Family Planning to The Society

There are several benefits of family planning to the society in terms of development and sustainability. However, the key benefits of family planning to the society include;

1. Population Control And Stabilization: With family planning, the population of the society is efficiently planned, controlled, and stabilized. There will hardly be a case of overpopulation. The society can better conserve and allocate resources like food, water, jobs, healthcare, social welfare programs, etc. This allows for sustainable development and environmental benefits.
2. Reduced Social Costs: Unplanned pregnancies drain social resources like healthcare, sanitation facilities, and the cost of pregnancy and delivery. The entire cost to provide these resources is very expensive. With family planning, these (unplanned) costs are prevented and are channeled toward other developmental priorities.
3. Economic Development: When a society or nation experiences a steady population growth, it can invest more in infrastructure, job creation, healthcare, and education. All of these together lead to a stronger and more stable economy.
4. Youth Enlightment: Family planning education empowers the youth with knowledge about their reproductive health. This education is very instrumental in preventing unplanned pregnancies among teenagers, adolescents, and intending couples.

The results of neglecting family planning or living in ignorance of its possibilities scale up to society. The adverse effects of lack of family planning are evident in society in more ways than we might care to notice.

1. Overpopulation: When birth control is not taken into consideration, overpopulation is inevitable. This in turn leads to a lack of resources and basic amenities to go around for the populace. These resources range from clean air to water. Inhabitants are also deprived of amenities such as health, education, and food because the portion available is not enough to go around.
2. Increase in Social Vices: Since the attention of parents are strained with trying to provide for more children than they had planned for, the children grow up without sound exposure to moral values. As a result of this, they are prone to turn to a life of crime.
3. Poverty: Without family planning, families have more children than they can take care of. This puts a huge strain on resources because there isn’t enough to go around. When the resources in a society are limited, the standard of living in that society reduces and is met with poverty.

In general, family planning enables the achievement of both women’s and children’s right to education, employment, and full participation in society.

The Common Methods of Birth Control

• Barrier contraceptives such as male and female condoms
• Cervical Caps
• Spermicide
• Sterilization which could be the vasectomy for males or tubal ligation for females
• Intrauterine devices (IUD) such as Copper IUD or Hormonal IUD.

Invest In A Stable Future With The Transformative Benefits Of Family Planning

The benefits of family planning cannot be emphasized enough. It is a decision that will positively transform and improve the quality of your family life. So, whether you are intending couples or newlyweds, you will find the information in this article helpful.

Remember, family planning is beyond contraception. It is basically planning your family by spacing pregnancies and using safe contraceptive methods.

The options for birth control are vast, yet it is important to be sufficiently informed before making your choice. This is why it is important to Speak to a Doctor before embarking on this journey.

Gone are the days when matters such as the number of children you can have were left to fate and chance. Today, you can make a choice to give your offspring a healthy and balanced future, what more? You can access this service with just a phone Call.

How Telemedicine Can Help

Family planning isn’t a one-day job and requires thought and responsibility. Many people don’t know enough about family planning and others don’t know how to go about it. They don’t know enough about their reproductive health and how to efficiently plan their family to suit their capabilities.

Information and education about family planning and its benefits are limited to many people. Some people even find it difficult to go to a hospital and consult a healthcare professional about family planning.

This is where telemedicine comes in.

With telemedicine, you can always book an appointment with a doctor at your convenience without having to make the commute. These professionals will properly educate you on the benefits of family planning and provide safe methods of family planning. They will answer whatever questions you have and give science-based facts.

Improving your family’s health and quality of life is easier with telemedicine. With staggering technological advancements in healthcare, you are one consultation away from fully experiencing the benefits of family planning.

Medical Disclaimer: KompleteCare™ aims to improve the quality of life for everyone with fact-based content about the nature of diseases, preventive care, behavioral health conditions, treatment options, and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited, and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the leading cause of maternal death?

The leading causes for nearly 75% of all maternal deaths (during and after pregnancy) include:

• Cardiovascular problems (heart disease and blood vessel problems)
• High blood pressure pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia)
• Heavy or severe bleeding (usually after childbirth)
• Infections, usually from cesarean section
• Cardiomyopathy (a weakened heart muscle)
• Stroke
• Amniotic fluid embolism
• Blood clots
• Anemia (low iron in the blood)

What are the consequences of a lack of family planning?

When there is no family planning, the risk of maternal and child mortality increases exponentially. Maternal death and child mortality are the direct consequences of a lack of family planning. Other consequences include poverty and low standard of living.

What are the benefits of family planning to a nation?

The benefits of family planning to a nation include sustainable development, job increase, population control, and adequate allocation of resources. Other benefits of family planning to a nation include youth enlightenment, economic development, and stability.

How effective is family planning?

When followed responsibly and properly, family planning methods (depending on the methods) are 99% effective.

What are the benefits of family planning for the father?

Family planning relieves the father of unnecessary burdens and responsibilities. With family planning, the father can provide his family’s and children’s basic needs according to his financial capability. He will also have more time to advance financially and be available to his children.

References

News-Medical. Natural Family Planning: Advantages and Disadvantages

Dr. Jen Shek Wei – Abortion Clinic. The Importance of Family Planning | Blog – Dr Jen Shek Wei

Noudjalbaye K. (1988). Is family planning beneficial for our society?

UNICEF. (1992). Benefits of family planning

National Institutes of Health. (2020). What are examples and causes of maternal morbidity and mortality?

The Open University. Benefits of family planning