Watch the new Family Planning Video!

Advocate for Family Planning

PBS News discusses issues surrounding Family Planning

         PBS News recently covered a story about the factors that influence family planning in Guatemala. Religious opposition, gender inequality (machismo), limited access to contraceptives and other family planning services and education make it difficult for women to take control of their reproductivity. This video highlights these issues along with the negative effects of not being able to plan families such as poor maternal health, maternal deaths, child malnutrition and decreased overall health and stability. Family Planning organizations recognize that this is an issue deeply ingrained within some communities and is therefore important to start teaching youth about sexual and reproductive health early so that they are comfortable with the topic. There is still a long way to go, but Evelyn (a family planning educator with WINGS) provides hope as she travels to rural areas to speak with women about these issues.

What can we be doing to make family planning education and services more readily available to communities like these?

GEL Ecomarket & Transition Guelph

Sustainability week is coming to a close, and to finish off we attended the GEL Eco-market downtown Guelph at St. Georges Anglican Church. This event was a showcase and connection opportunity for 'green' businesses, local non-profits and municipal initiatives working toward sustainability and community resilience. This was part of Resilience 2011, a festival coinciding with S-week at the University and Earth day (March 26th 8:30-9:30) organized through Transition Guelph (which we encourage you to look into). Transition Guelph stems from transition initiatives, which are emerging and evolving approaches to community-level sustainability. They are starting to appear in several parts of the world, and Guelph hopes to be the second transition town initiative in Canada! Go to the Transition Guelph Website  to find out more about these 'scalable microcosms of hope.' Resilience 2011 is an opportunity to connect people within the community of Guelph and promote Transition Guelph.

The planners of the Resilience 2011 festival highlight that:

"Our intention for the Festival is to capture the community's imagination - to inform, build momentum, and inspire people to take action to help build resilience, both personally and in the community at large. What's more, we want to celebrate the great work that is already being done by the many organizations, businesses and individuals who are taking steps to make Guelph a sustainable, resilient community, for ourselves and for our children."

We had the opportunity to talk to many people from the Guelph community about family planning and how it can contribute to a more sustainable planet.


What steps can you take to make our community more sustainable and resilient for the future generations?

Condoms are a girl's (and guy's!) best friend

Contraceptives come in a variety of forms that are adaptable to a person’s medical history, lifestyle and personal preferences. Condoms, in particular, provide their users with a host of benefits including reduced risk of pregnancy, protection from STI’s and HIV/AIDS.

Unlike many other types of contraceptives, they are generally accessible without a prescription, are extremely portable and only require to be used at the time of a sexual interaction (unlike hormone regulating contraceptives that need to be taken daily, monthly etc.)

Condoms are visible to both partners, which allow both parties a sense of security and control in reducing risk associated with sex. In this way, the responsibility of safe sex becomes a mutual agreement and a shared act – opposed to putting the onus of protected sex on solely one of the partners. This is an important component of sexual education, and empowerment amongst both males and females. Reducing the likelihood of transmission of STI’s, HIV/AIDS, or unwanted pregnancy should never be seen as solely a ‘male’ or ‘female’ problem. A sense of transparency within a sexual relationship enables both partners to work towards equality within their sexual relationship. Additionally, using a visible contraceptive can spur discussion between partners and help to reduce stigma associated with condom use.

Despite the potential for the use of condoms to improve both the health and decision making power of both parties involved in a sexual relationship – we must recognize that gender rojavascript:void(0)les, cultural norms and poverty all impact an individual’s ability to make choices and to act on those choices. It is for these reasons that access to reproductive and sexual education and contraceptives is so important. By encouraging discussion around contraceptive use we can start to bring the barriers to safe sex to light

World Water Day 2011

World Water Day is March 22, and each year a new theme related to issues surrounding water is highlighted. World Water Day 2011 is looking at the challenges presented by growing urban populations: 

 

"The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems." 

"This year theme, Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to actively engage in addressing the challenges of urban water management" 

These are just a few facts highlighted by World Water Day 2011: 

- This is the first time in human history that most of the world's population live in cities: 3.3 billion people... and the urban landscape continues to grow 

- 38% of growth is represented by expanding slums, while the city populations are increasing faster than city infrastructure can adapt

- Every second the urban population grows by 2 people

- 493 million people share their sanitation facilities 

*********************************************************************************

This is a very complex and pressing issue. We believe it is important to take a multi-faceted approach to handling this type of complex problem. 

How can family planning - access to resources and education allowing women and couples to choose the number of children they wish to have and when- help to alleviate this problem? 

Sustainable SEX

March 19th- 26 is Sustainability Week at the University of Guelph. Student leaders involved with s-week hope that it will "Empower our community, inspire individuals and organize our collective capacity for positive change." 

S-week encompasses a plethora of activities including: no impact challenges, bike silk screening, workshops, research showcases and poetry to name a few. You can check out their calendar for a complete list of activities and when they are taking place. All the events are free and take place at the university or in the community. 

How does family planning relate to sustainability? 

Family planning allows for couples to choose and anticipate the number of children they wish to have and when. Since couples can decide on how many children they are able to support and care for, this creates not only more sustainable families, but also contributes to sustainable communities. Through this, there will be less pressure on social services, the environment and resource availability. For more details and resources you can also look into these previous posts: 15 ways family planning can contribute to sustainability, and ...So what can you do. 

Also, you can check out our booth at S-week in the University Center on Friday March 25th and at St Georges Anglican Church on Saturday March 26th. We will be handing out free condoms, donated by the Wellness Centre, and talking about how family planning relates to creating a more resilient planet.

World Health Organization- Maternal Mortality Map

This is an interesting interactive map showing the maternal mortalities by year and country. It is extremely important to note that over 500,000 women die every year giving birth. The World Health Organization points out that risks involved with giving birth can be reduced through an increase in family planning education.

Take a look at this map and see for yourselves.

http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/mdg5_mm/atlas.html

For more information:
http://www.who.int/gho/women_and_health/mortality/maternal_text/en/index.html

...So what can you do?

        Every minute a women dies from a pregnancy-related complication, most of which are preventable. At least 200 million women want access to safe and effective family planning methods but for many women in the Global South this dream will not become a reality due to factors such as poverty, cultural or religious constraint or the absence of consistently funded local, national or international family planning assistance. 
        Family Planning is about providing the means for families to make conscious and rationale decisions about when, why and how they will start to have children based on their own beliefs and values.

The Better Planet Project at the University of Guelph is an initiative to "accelerate innovation to effect positive and powerful change in our world." In order to do this, The Better Planet Project focuses on four Elements of Success – food, environment, health and community.         The University of Guelph's Better Planet Project must provide support for family planning in order to truly create a better planet.


Family Planning directly impacts each of the Elements of Success. Here are a few examples:

Food and Family Planning:
- Improved food security and food democracy
- Decreased stress on fertile land 
- Decreased burden of hunger-related diseases

Community and Family Planning 
- Less pressure on social services
- Reduced prevalence of social stigma
- Improvement in family’s economic status 
- Increased time to participate in community   
   initiatives

Health and Family Planning 
- Reduced maternal mortality
- Reduced unwanted and high-risk pregnancies
- Prevents child deaths
- Increased family and community health
- Improved sexual health of youth

Environment and Family Planning 
- Reduced impact on resources
- Decreased loss of bio-diversity
- Limited expansion due to urbanization
- Reduced usage of greenhouse gasses

Family Planning should be the central focus of the Better Planet platform as it significantly impacts individuals, communities and our environment.

If you support the inclusion of universal Family Planning in University of Guelph's Better Planet Project please take the time to sign a this petition. Just follow this link: Family Planning Petition

*********************************************************************************************************************************
Family Planning, whether in the global North or South, is a multi-faceted approach to maternal health that should offer woman and their partners assistance with:

• Pre-conception counseling – planning when to have children and how large of a family to have (based on their own values and beliefs);

• Birth control – a variety of reliable birth control methods must be made available and accessible to women and their partners on a consistent basis;

• Infertility management;

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) management – many of the techniques involved in family planning additionally provide protection against STIs, most importantly HIV/AIDS

• Sexuality education – provision of educational programs to support birth control use, prenatal and postnatal family health and all aspects of family planning.

Birth Stories from Women in Nepal

This post is a brief look at an interesting qualitative study conducted in Nepal about gender and power dynamics within the family structure, used 15 interviews with postpartum mothers, and 8 interviews their mother in laws to understand how cultural traditions and patriarchal norms impact access to health care, birthing, and post birth responsibilities

Please access the full article for the complete methodology, implications and recommendations: Regmi, K., Smart, R., Kottler, J., (2010)Understanding Gender and Power Dynamics Within the Family: A Qualitative Study of Nepali Women’s Experience. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 31(2):191-201

Of the women selected to be interviewed, all lived below the poverty line (as defined by World Bank) and all but two were in arranged marriages. One story that came from the interviews is from a woman identified as Jethi who stated:

“I got married when I was 14 years old and after 2 years of marriage I became a mother. I have no intention to have another baby before this one goes to school, but my husband doesn’t agree. He wanted to have at least four sons. It won’t affect him even if I die during childbirth but I have to produce them because it was his wish.”

Heera, another woman interviewed in the study spoke about her limited ability to make choices regarding her health and birthing process:

“My mother-in-law has demanded that I give birth to a dozen sons. She wants some of them to work in a paddy field, some others in cutting wood, some for shepherding, and the remaining for muglan [to work abroad]. My husband said that he could be satisfied with two sons. They never asked me what I wanted. They treat me like a breeding dog.”

The article discusses that as a result of kinship hierarchies within the families interviewed, there seems to be a prevalent belief that “…men have the right to control women’s reproductive capabilities and access to health services.” However, it is acknowledged that differences in beliefs and behaviour is largely dependent on ethnicity, caste, religion, and whether the family structure is hierarchical or more egalitarian.

The women’s stories illustrate the need, and desire, for increased autonomy for women over choices regarding access to maternal health, contraceptives and education about family planning. Access is obviously a key component in encouraging women to make these decisions around births themselves, but the impact of broader societal structures cannot be ignored. Funding for programs that target the education of men and women, as well as the national and regional policy for women’s rights to maternal health care and contraceptives must be addressed. A multi-tiered approach must be taken to improve the status of women worldwide, and to ensure that family planning practices can be made to be socially acceptable across cultures.

Supporting access to family planning education and services

Recently, Planned Parenthood (a family planning organization in the US) faced a potential bar on their federal funding which provides access to birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and much more. This new legislation could have a huge impact on the many women and families that rely on these services.

This spurred discussion on the provision of family planning education and resources and our role in advocating for these services not only for our country, but the countless other countries in need.

To read more about this issue, check out our article in The Ontarion:
Support education and funding for family planning: Its Condomsense

Planned Parenthood is also in Canada. Check out their Toronto website.

A Few Creative Ways to Use Condoms

Ever have a condom expire, and not know what to do with it? Get some condoms in a residence orientation package, but you're celibate? Breakup with your boyfriend but you still have those XX's laying around?

Here are some creative ideas to re-purpose condoms while reducing waste and inspiring giggles:

Condom flowers! Cheer yourself up with a homemade bouquet! Or give it to a friend or partner.

On rainy days or traveling, figuring out how to waterproof your stuff quickly becomes an art! Protect your valuable and electronics by putting them in a condom, and tying it off!

Unused condoms can also help make you look fashionable, practical and smart. There's a whole array of ways you can make condoms look fashionable!

Condom dresses!

Condom hats!

 Condom book bags!

These all look like fun craft projects - we just don't recommend trying to use the condom after you've given them their new, aesthetically pleasing, life.

Family Planning and Mr. Condom

Thailand chose to take an interesting approach to promoting family planning and condom use.
The campaign saturated Thailand with condoms... everywhere! This included distributing contraceptives in floating markets, at traffic stops, at temples, at food stalls next to Coca Cola, at coffee shops and at schools. As Mechai Viravaidya says, condoms can be used as 'weapons of mass protection!' The video uses satire about US foreign policy to make a critical argument for the importance of support for family planning and contraceptive education.

To find out more about Machai Virayaidya and his foundation check out:
The population and Community development association
The Village Development Partnership

Ted Talk

A Reporter looks at issues surrounding family planning in Guatemala

A reporter from PBS news followed a family planning promoter from WINGS (a non-profit organization in Guatemala) for a week to learn about family planning in rural communities. The report describes his experience visiting villages and talking with Guatemalans about the factors that affect family planning in this country.

Read this story here: Reporter's Notebook: The Family Planning Frontier in Guatemala

WINGS family planning promoter discussing contraceptives.

Guatemalan women at family planning talk

International Women's Day: March 8th

Today International Women's Day is being celebrated all over the world.

Here is an excerpt from the International Women's day Website on what its all about:

What:
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Why:
International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911. 2011 is the Global Centenary Year. Let's reinvent opportunity for working women and all women.

(To read more follow this link: http://www.internationalwomensday.com)

How does this relate to family planning?

Access to family planning education and services can decrease inequality and increase opportunities for women. Read the story of Ester, a mother of ten from Kenya, who through learning about family planning issues was able to mobilize her community and advocate for improved maternal health!
Ester's Story

Ester:

15 Ways Family Planning Can Contribute To Sustainability

Sustainability as defined by the UN Brundtland Commission is “…meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

This definition of sustainability incorporates economic, ecological, social, cultural and political factors.

By supporting research and funding for family planning you are helping to support the following changes necessary for sustainable development:

1. Lessened pressure on social services
2. Reduced stigma around contraceptive use
3. Improved family economic status, through increased opportunity for
employment generating activities
4. Increased engagement in community activities and initiatives
5. Improved availability and access to culturally appropriate and nutritious food
6. Reduced pressure on arable land by decreasing demand for food
7. Decreased prevalence of hunger related disease
8. Reduction in maternal mortality, high-risk pregnancies and unsafe abortions
9. Improved sexual health of youth and adults
10. Reduction of incidences of new HIV/AIDS cases
11. Positive self-esteem
12. A 16-29% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions associated with slowing
population growth
13. Better access to education opportunities for youth and adults
14. Lessened pressure on fresh water resources
15. Protection of biodiversity, through decreased demand for undeveloped land

Learn more from the United Nations Population Fund at www.unfpa.org and WINGS Guatemala at http://wingsguate.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
Get in contact with passionate individuals like you by checking out the Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/UoGFamPlan