The contraceptive controversy!

Photo: Getty ImagesSOMETIME ago in this column, we treated a vox-pop and a question was thrown to the public on teenage girls and contraceptive. The question, “Would you introduce contraceptives to your 15-year-old daughter?”, was answered by some of our readers and majority answered No. Their reason being that a 15-year-old girl is too young to know about contraceptives. Some answered in the affirmative, their reason was that it is better for a 15-year-old girl to have a knowledge of contraceptive than to be a victim of unwanted pregnancy.

I thought we have been able to lay this issue to rest until sometimes last week in a gathering, a similar issue was raised, although with a slight difference. The young lady in question, Toyin, a 14-year-old JSS 2 student was impregnated by a 16-year-old SSS 2 student. The girl in question lives with her father who is a single parent.

Her father did not discover she was pregnant until a neighbour told him. By then, she was already five months pregnant. Initially, she denied it. By the time she admitted being pregnant, she was almost nine months gone. She told her father that Kunle was responsible for her pregnancy.

On getting to Kunle’s house, he denied having anything to do with her. Kunle’s mum who incidentally is the prophetess and founder of the church, this young girl and her father attends said her son couldn’t be responsible for the pregnancy.

When asked why she was so sure, she said before anyone else, she had personally, asked Toyin who was responsible for her pregnancy when she noticed she was pregnant, but Toyin denied being pregnant.

The controversy surrounding Toyin’s pregnancy became a big issue but it was later resolved after she gave birth to a baby boy and Kunle’s mother spotted a birth mark which is peculiar to Kunle’s family on the baby’s back. Kunle’s family agreed to take full responsibility of the baby’s but stated categorically that Kunle could not marry Toyin as he was too young to do so and more so, he still had his studies and life ahead of him.

The deed had been done, Toyin became a mother at 14 years. The question some people raised was that, would it not be better if Toyin is advised to take a contraceptive device?

What would you advise?

Mrs. Titi Oyewunmi, 34-year-old housewife: No matter how young this girl is, she is already a mother. So what stops you from introducing her to contraceptive or family planning device?

It is high time we stopped deceiving ourselves. Believe it or not these young girls know more than you think they do. If you don’t take measures to see that she is protected against another pregnancy her father would be shocked that he would soon be nursing another grand child and if she is not lucky, the same young man may not be responsible.

Mrs. Nkem Obi, 41-year-old Teacher:- I don’t agree with that, how do you explain that? How would you introduce family planning device to a 14-year-old? Haba! Are you encouraging her to be promiscuous or what? Instead of addressing the issue and making sure that the girl know the problem she would get herself into if she gets pregnant again. I don’t support the issue of contraceptives.

Mariam Palang, 46 years old, Secretary:- This girl’s case is not about family planning or contraceptives, it is about missing it from the beginning and as far as I am concerned, it is never too late. She has made a mistake, that is a fact, but that does not mean that we adults should compound her problem the more by taking steps that will give her undue liberty. I am sure she herself must have missed out on some things during the time she was nursing the pregnancy and the time she would spend nursing her baby. She should be made to realise what she did to herself and given other options. In case she did not know, there is nothing wrong in educating her to take an option of abstinence. Despite the fact that she has engaged in sexual activities before, she can still be spoken to on the advantages of total abstinence. I want to believe this is a better option than introducing her to contraceptives.

There are diverse opinions on this issue. However, an expert on sexuality issues, Mrs. Sue Omotosho, President, Family Health and Population Action Committee (FAHPAC), an NGO, said that every child either male or female should have unreserved access to sexulity education.

According to her, “parents (both parents), the school and other stakeholders should give growing children sexuality education. A child should be exposed to all options and given a chance to make a responsible choice.

“A child should be educated on the pros and cons of engaging in sexual activities out of marriage — pre-marital sex and the advantages of total abstinence till marriage. If this child in question went through sexuality education I’m sure she would not have fallen victim of teenage pregnancy.

“Her situation however does not stop people around her from educating her. The issue at hand is not about introducing her to contraceptive or family planning alone. It is about exposing her to what options there are and allowing her to make a responsible choice.

“There is no harm in letting her know about the contraceptive and also about the fact that she could actually abstain from sexual activities. “She has a right to choose, but she should be counselled and guided aright.”