CONTRACEPTIVE: Shocking use of emergency pill

Kenyan women in ages 24-29 years are the major users of emergency contraceptive pills, a study shows.
Most have a steady source of income, with 61 per cent educated to college and university level, according to the report.
Pharmacies were cited as the preferred source of the contraceptive countrywide with around 896,000 of pills distributed in the private outlets compared to another 371,000 given in public health centres.
“The pharmacies are a favourite with women because they are more convenient and provide confidentiality,” Dr Jill Keesbury, of the Population Council, said during a media briefing at Hotel InterContinental in Nairobi yesterday.
University level The Emergency Contraception in Kenya, The Facts study was carried out jointly by the Ministry of Public Health, Population Council and the Population Services International.
An intervention launched at pharmacies to provide free information on effective regular and ongoing contraception methods was met with resistance by some women as they considered it intrusive, Dr Keesbury said.
However, 57 per cent of the women used the method irregularly.
According to the 2003 Kenya Demographic Health Survey, close to half of the births in the preceding five years were mistimed or unwanted with only 56 per cent of women of reproductive age having 7041248R.pdf 6/2/10 11:08:10 AM heard of emergency contraception. Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya chairman D.S. Karanja called for rational use of the contraceptive method among women of reproductive age that is cited to include women in the 15-49 age bracket.
“We record an upsurge in the use of the ECPs especially during weekends and public holidays like the most recent one, Madaraka Day on Tuesday,” Dr Karanja said describing the situation as lighting a fire and immediately looking for a fire extinguisher to solve the problem.
The Ministry of Public Heath, Department of Reproductive Health deputy head, Dr Shiphiah Kuria, warned of a trend where women were more concerned about getting pregnant than contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and Aids and some forms of cancers such as cervical cancer. “We need to address the main drivers of unprotected sex and offer lasting solutions to long term contraceptive methods,” she said.
Dr Kuria asked health providers to counsel women on emergency contraception to provide a chance to discuss its STI risks. “Counselling is an opportunity to discuss the risks of STIs and the available prevention options.”
The health experts were concerned about the high usage of the drugs especially on weekends and public holidays although at least 90 per cent know that the method did not protect against STI’s and HIV/Aids. What they had to say about the morning a er pill Esther Ngure, 27, married with one child and a city business woman Most girls are using the pills unaware of the dangers in their frequent use. They are dropping their guard on contracting HIV/Aids compared to falling pregnant. You are unaware of your partner’s history yet you are having unprotected sex. Rogers Acharya,77, a Nairobi businessman Let us not deny that our children are having sex.
Two of my daughters fell pregnant at the age of 13 and the other at 20. They became parents at such a tender age. We need to talk to them as they mature. We need to give information on reproductive health so they can make informed choices. Solomon Mukhebo, pharmaceutical technologist at Jamia Chemist, Nairobi Pharmacies have proved a favourable source of the ECPs because they are more accessible, convenient and provide confidentiality. However, before we issue the ECPs we talk to the client for needs assessment. Sheila Leloon, 25, a city based marketer and single.
Girls my age prefer the ECP because it is more accessible in chemists compared to public health facilities. Since they use it repeatedly, they avoid questions at the hospitals. They are more scared of falling getting pregnant than STIs because they consider it a greater burden.