Women’s Non-access to Contraceptives
Contraception and menstruation are considered as highly sensitive topics in many
countries of the world. People can’t talk about it publicly with comfort. Around 62% of women
in the world use traditional methods of family planning and 56% use some of the modern
methods. Modern methods of contraception are sterilization, condoms, injectables, implants,
intrauterine devices, pills, etc. Focusing on South Sudan, it was observed that after the war that
lasted for five decades and ended in 2005; the women found that their word differences in the
viewpoints regarding their reproductive health. Different viewpoints were medicalized,
militarized and traditional. The society of South Sudan always welcomed children. Fertility in
women suggests spiritual and economic poverty. The practice of multiple ma
iages is also
common in South Sudan. These traditions hold high-quality strength in most of the rural areas
of the country. South Sudan is one of the countries with very little almost no access to
contraception.
Human Rights aspects of this issue
According to the approach of Human Development, good reproductive health is the
primary right of women. The issue of family planning has drawn the attention of the entire
world. It is necessary to understand and spread the significance of services related to family
planning. This would not only help in empowering women but making the society prosperous.
The central government in many countries is providing contraceptive options to the
underprivileged women of the countries for free or at reasonable prices. The World Health
Organisation is spreading awareness for social change through its innovative programs for
women to understand family planning methods. It is there right to remain safe from untimely
death. The Human Rights aspects also help in an intended pregnancy, infant mortality and other
unwanted problems of society. Women can plan the number of children and the determination
of spacing of pregnancies can be in their control. Adolescent pregnancies can also be reduced
with the help of family planning and human rights are in favor of them.
What women have done about it?
It was very difficult for women in South Sudan to start using contraceptives or talk about
family planning after the war ended. The ideas with conflict started getting surfaced. It began
with the creation of tensions between health workers, men, and women. The room for
discussions about different contraceptive methods started taking place. Health workers started
to bear anger from women’s husbands. The military point of view during the war completely
ejected the concept of abortion and family planning. From this stage to the stage of discussion
was not so easy to take. Many women had to bear divorce on taking contraceptive options or
opting or abortion. It was very necessary to take the consent of their husband first and then go
for family planning. Then time changed, a little change started coming but in 2013 civil war
oke and it is still present. It needs a lot more effort for women to come up and take a stand
for themselves and the coming generations. There is a strict need for social activism by women
for access to contraceptives for everybody's health.
References
Khan, A., Hashmi, H. A., & Naqvi, Z XXXXXXXXXXAwareness and practice of contraception among
child bearing age women. Journal of Surgery Pakistan (International), 16(4), XXXXXXXXXX.
Kane, S., Rial, M., Matere, A., Dieleman, M., Broerse, J. E., & Kok, M XXXXXXXXXXGender relations
and women's reproductive health in South Sudan. Global health action, 9(1), 33047.
Culwell, K. R., Vekemans, M., de Silva, U., Hurwitz, M., & Crane, B. B XXXXXXXXXXCritical gaps in
universal access to reproductive health: contraception and prevention of unsafe abortion.
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 110, S13-S16.