By Asma’u Ahmad
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said that most unwanted pregnancies did not originate from contraceptive-failure but user-failure of contraceptives.
Professor Adewole, who is also a Gynaecologist, was reacting to complaints over the rate of contraceptive failure, alleged to have led to a high rate of unwanted pregnancies in the country.
The minister speaking with newsmen described contraceptives as methods, devices or drugs that could prevent pregnancy (conception).
He said that for every one, there was an appropriate method of application.
According to him, there are different methods of using contraceptives: the use of hormone medications, intrauterine contraceptive devices, barrier contraception, periods of abstaining from sex, and sterilization.
“Contraceptive-failure, if you use it well, rarely fails. Very rarely will an unwanted pregnancy come from contraceptive-failure; it comes from user-failure.
“And let me also say clearly that there is one that is good for you. The truth of the matter is that, we need to examine you to make sure that your blood pressure is normal,” he said.
Adewole said there was the need to promote family planning in the country to reduce maternal and newborn deaths and the spread of diseases to a significant percentage, which he said would reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions, he said.
The minister noted that the use of contraceptives would also help in child-spacing, as well as to improve on the health of women and children.
