Planning one's family is to space one's birth with the view to having few
children. Family planning takes many forms including the use of oral
contraception which involves the use of tablets to prevent pregnancy.
Other devices can be used including Intra-Uterus Device (I.U.D),
condom for men, withdrawal, rhythm (which involves the study of the
menstrual cycle and avoiding sex when necessary), abortion and
sterilization which involves ending further birth.
Family planning is opposed by some people including Christians and
other people who are traditionally inclined. It is argued that man has to
give birth to as many children as possible to fulfil God's commandment
to man in the Bible (Genesis 1:22). Also tradition favours giving birth to
many children to serve as security for the parents in their old age. That
is when some of the children will be left to take care of them when
they are old because the children are many. It is also maintained that
having many children is advantageous because they will offer a helping
hand in farming activities. Furthermore, those who use family planning
have side effects like bleeding and pains. It is also prestigious to have
many children among certain sections of the community.
However, it is necessary to adopt family planning method so as to reduce
the number of children born, due to problems associated with giving
birth to many children. Ghana for instance, When many children are
born the financial burden of the parents concerned increases. This is
because all the children have to be fed well, educated, clothed and
housed or accommodated. In view of such great economic burden and
in the face of recent high cost of living, these parents who are not
financially sound will find it difficult to take proper care of their children.
Some of the children will not be properly fed and educated. Their
development physically and mentally will be retarded. This is true
especially when one visits the villages. This extra financial burden
adversely affects the standard of living of the parents and their children.
Sometimes they are forced to go to friends for loans, a situation which
is embarrassing indeed.
Secondly, due to the increase of financial burden of the parents they
cannot afford enough and quality accommodation for all their children.
This will give rise to a situation whereby many people have to share one
room, the result of which is the spread of diseases.
Furthermore, when a woman gives birth frequently without enough time
to rest, it affects her health and physical development adversely. She
may complain of frequent ill health. Her constant ill health will lead to
her giving birth to weak children who will not be able to increase
productivity in future and therefore a burden on the state.
Also because of poor spacing between births, the mother whose health
is impaired cannot give proper nourishment to the children. She cannot
take proper care of the children and this will adversely affect the health
of the children as well. In fact lack of family planning could result in
infant mortality due to increases in population without increase in
medical facilities.
Many children in the system without proper financial care can lead to
juvenile delinquency with its associated problems like smoking, stealing
and rudeness to parents. With few children the parents can take proper
care of them both financially and educationally. They can be properly
brought up and be controlled thus saving the society from such social
problems.
Moreover, the government will be forced to come in with provisions to
take care of the growing population, using scarce resources. Stress on
the use of social amenities will force the government to use the
resources available to provide more of these, including public places of
convenience, pipe borne water supply, hospitals, schools and others.
Lack of family planning could result in prostitution. Several young girls
will be forced by poverty to leave home to acquire wealth and this will
lower morality.
In view of the above numerous problems associated with having many
children, it is my advice to parents to embrace family planning.
Thanks for your time.
See you another time.
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