Citation

Dossou L. Bien Naitre 1993; (4): 10-12.

Vernacular Title

La planification familiale: un choix fait en toute liberte.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Association béninoise pour la promotion de la famille)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12318553

Abstract

When a woman and a man use a contraceptive, they affirm that their sexual relations' goal is pleasure and reciprocal enjoyment but not reproduction. If it is essential to find this enjoyment together, it is also each person's responsibility to not conceive an unwanted child as a consequence of one's most personal pleasures. Use of contraception is also recognition of women's sexuality. The most effective contraception methods are women's methods. They have health risks which only women assume. Thus, it behooves women to require that research be conducted in their interest and be oriented towards 100% effective contraceptives which do not endanger their health. In most countries, it is extremely important that individuals make their own decisions in matters of family planning without outside coercion. Some people in developing countries have tried to determine the ideal family size, resulting in individuals losing a part of their right to freely choose their fertility. When countries adopt individual choice in matters of family planning, the governments must examine closely, for example, the nations' natural resources, its population, and medical resources. These numbers can help the government determine the ideal family size to optimize the quality of life. The government had 2 ways to try to influence couples in their family planning decisions: incentives and disincentives. Several African countries have begun to encourage voluntary family planning thanks to maternal and child health programs. Since voluntary family planning is new to most African countries, it is too early to claim that it will manage to help couples and countries to achieve their objectives. If they want to give family planning a chance, certain conditions should exist in the countries; all postpartum clinics should have available each contraceptive; contraceptives should be available to everyone who is sexually active and wants to avoid pregnancy; and there should be voluntary sterilization clinics for women and men who live to rural and urban areas.

Language: fr