Refrain from abuse of emergency contraceptives—users urged

The World Contraceptive Day has been marked in Cape Coast in the Central region with a call on Ghanaians to refrain from abuse of emergency contraceptives.

A Counselor and Trainer with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Mr Michael Tagoe, said the abuse of emergency contraceptive “could alter the menstrual cycle and may bring problems including infertility to users later.”

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He said it could also lead to hormonal imbalance and appealed to users not to use emergency contraceptives as a routine contraception.

Contraceptives include condoms, both for males and females, injectable, implants, diaphragm and the emergency contraceptives which always come in the form of pills.

The meeting made up of representatives from the Ghana Health Service, (PPAG), the Regional Coordinating Council, the Ghana Education Service, the Department of Gender and Social Protection, the Social Welfare Department, the Population Council, the media and non-governmental organization with support from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) said the increasing abuse of emergency drugs were disturbing.

Some of the members of the group said some users were taking the emergency contraceptives three or four times in a month.

The Director of Nursing Services in charge of Public Health at the Regional Health Directorate, Mrs Beatrice Essilfie noted that while the GHS was committed to promoting the use of contraception, particularly the traditional contraceptives and support individuals to plan families it advises against the abuse of contraceptive particularly in emergency contraception.

She said the GHS was working to ensure that family planning services were available and accessing for all in need of such services.
Mr David Allan Paintsil, UNFPA Focal Person at the Central Regional Coordinating Council charged all stakeholder agencies to step up efforts and to intensify education on family planning and its benefits to help build sustainable communities.

World Contraception Day

The WCD is marked on September 26 every year to create awareness about the use of contraception and to help people make informed choices in sexual health issues.

Acceptor Rate in CR

The group was however happy that the family planning acceptance rate has increased in the region.

Districts with relatively high acceptance rate, included Komenda-Edina-Eguafo Abrem (KEEA), Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Twifo Atti Mokwa and Upper Denkyira West.

However, districts such as Assin South, Ajumako Enyan Essiam and Gomoa West were said to have low acceptance rate of contractive usage.

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