FREETOWN, September 22 (IPS) – Eunice Dumbuya, a younger activist in Freetown, Sierra Leone, nonetheless remembers being known as promiscuous after getting a contraceptive implant a couple of years in the past. She knew the dangers of an unplanned being pregnant in her conservative nation, so she made a alternative.
“I needed to go together with my aunt to the hospital for contraceptives as a result of my mother was very strict,” she defined. “My aunt was the one who supported me. Utilizing contraceptives boosted my self-confidence,” Eunice shared.
In Sierra Leone, many individuals see intercourse exterior marriage as a taboo, whereas childbirth inside marriage is considered as a blessing. Consequently, utilizing contraceptives can appeal to harsh judgment.
“Some folks, as soon as they see the [contraceptive] implant beneath your pores and skin, assume you’re promiscuous,” Eunice stated. “If you happen to’re a teen, it’s worse. Individuals assume you’re doing one thing inappropriate to your age simply since you are on contraceptives.
Cultural and Non secular Boundaries
Household planning stays a key concern shaping the lives of ladies and men in Sierra Leone. Based on the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Well being Survey, the contraceptive prevalence charge is 24 p.c for all ladies, 21 p.c for married ladies, and 53 p.c for sexually lively single ladies.
Regardless of rising use, many ladies nonetheless face main limitations. Fayia Foray, the Built-in Advertising and marketing Officer at Marie Stopes Sierra Leone, a Non-Governmental Group offering Household Planning, and Sexual Reproductive Well being Providers in Sierra Leone, pointed to cultural stigma, discrimination, and non secular beliefs as main challenges.
“It’s important that married ladies use contraceptives to area births, regain their well being, and assist their households via work,” he stated. “Younger folks use it to delay childbirth, give attention to training or abilities, and plan for the long run. Nationally, it empowers youths to turn into productive, contributing to the nation’s growth.”
Nonetheless, opposition from spiritual leaders makes household planning onerous to advertise. “There are nonetheless communities the place spiritual leaders preach towards using household planning, which severely limits its acceptance and use,” Foray added.
This resistance usually trickles all the way down to households, particularly these with strict spiritual beliefs. Mariatu Sankoh, a college scholar, recalled how tough it was to hunt contraception. “I can’t confront my mother and father to inform them I need to take contraceptives, as a result of I do know I’d obtain the beating of my life, one thing I’ve by no means skilled earlier than,” she stated. “So, I needed to take issues into my very own palms as a result of I don’t need to get pregnant.” She added that the primary time she went to the hospital for contraception, she needed to go together with a buddy’s aunt to keep away from suspicion.
Foray additionally talked about that some folks falsely imagine contraceptives trigger infertility, and others exaggerate uncomfortable side effects.
“All medicines have uncomfortable side effects, and household planning is not any exception,” he stated. “Regardless of the uncomfortable side effects, the advantages of utilizing household planning far outweigh the dangers.”
Controlling Ladies’s Decisions
In Sierra Leone, stigma round contraceptives is commonly rooted in gender-based violence and makes an attempt to regulate ladies’s our bodies. These points stay widespread. Round 62 p.c of ladies aged 15 to 49 have skilled bodily or sexual violence. And 61 p.c of ever-married ladies have suffered abuse from their companions, whether or not bodily, sexual, or emotional.
Consultants say that stigma round contraception goes past household planning. It’s tied to the best way society treats ladies’s independence.
“In our African society, when a younger woman makes use of implants, she is commonly judged harshly,” stated Rebecca Kamara, who remembers dealing with stigma herself.
“That was one of many main challenges I confronted. Even companions could be unsupportive. Some want you employ emergency drugs, which include critical uncomfortable side effects. After I began utilizing contraceptives, I used to be nonetheless finding out. I didn’t need an unplanned being pregnant to disrupt my training,” she defined.
“I used to be checked out in a really demeaning method once I began utilizing implants at an early age,” says Isha Sesay, a younger, single lady. “Some members of the family and neighbors whispered behind my again that I had a number of companions, that’s why I used to be utilizing it.”
Like Isha, many younger ladies in Sierra Leone face stigma from household, associates, and neighbors for selecting to guard themselves.
Some males nonetheless imagine that solely ladies with a number of sexual companions use contraceptives.
“If I’m the one one you’re sleeping with, you’ll be able to’t stress your self out to make use of it. I can’t date a girl who makes use of contraceptives. They’re those you have to be afraid of as a person,” stated Francis Kanu.
Michael Sahr Kendor, a married man, shares an analogous view. “I can perceive a teen utilizing contraceptives, however I don’t see the explanation for grownup ladies to make use of contraceptives,” he stated.
Progress?
In Sierra Leone, efforts are being made to advertise household planning and develop entry to reproductive well being providers. The nation is a part of the FP2030 initiative, a worldwide partnership working to make sure that all ladies and women have entry to fashionable contraception by 2030.
The United Nations Inhabitants Fund has stepped up efforts and is supplying contraceptives used within the public sector, however regardless of this, it says, stigma round contraceptive use stays a problem.
Adama*, a visually impaired lady, shared how well being employees nonetheless discriminate towards folks with disabilities who attempt to use contraceptives.
“At one time, once I went to a pharmacy to buy an emergency tablet, the pharmacist, whereas handing me the prescription, informed me to tell the one who despatched me to eat nicely earlier than taking it,” she stated. The remark made her really feel horrible as a result of the pharmacist assumed she couldn’t be the person.
Marie Kamara, one other lady dwelling with a incapacity, stated she merely can’t afford contraceptives.
“I’ve by no means used household planning. I do know I’m not financially robust, so contraceptives are clearly not an possibility for me. I can barely afford primary wants like feeding, so eager about contraceptives and preserve them isn’t even lifelike.”
Braveness within the Face of Stigma
Eunice in Freetown regrets that the stigma round contraceptives is getting worse. Nonetheless, she believes ladies should be courageous and make their very own selections.
“Societal strain has pushed many ladies to take away the implant or swap to much less seen strategies. Regardless that the stigma affected me, I didn’t take away it as a result of I knew I couldn’t let folks’s opinions decide my selections. Typically, you simply can’t escape the stigmatization,” she stated.
Notice: Adama’s identify was modified as a result of she needed anonymity.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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