When a parent packs contraceptives for their child

Jane Nabasumba (not real name) a teacher at one of the schools in Kampala has supported her 15 year old daughter to use contraceptives. Her decision was influenced by her young sister who conceived while in Senior Five.
She says her sister was humble and left no room for anyone to suspect she was sexually active. As such, it was a surprise when the head teacher informed her that her sister was pregnant.

“I always monitored my sister. She visited anyone without my permission. She spent most of her time revising books. I never suspected her to be sexually active,” Nabasumba said.

Nabasumba had been living with her since she was 10 years old. On the heels of that disappointment and rumours that her daughter is close to the opposite sex, she encouraged the adolescent to use birth control pills.
“I invested my hard-earned money on my sister. She let me down. I don’t want my first born to do the same. It will be a bad precedent for her young siblings,” she says.
Asked whether her daughter is comfortable taking pills, Nabasumba says they had a lengthy discussion before the decision was taken.

Although she does not divulge the type of pills her daughter uses, Nabasumba claims she sought advice from a health worker at one of the health facilities in Makindye Division, a Kampala suburb.

Gynaecologist’s take
Dr Yosam Nsubuga, a gynaecologist at Doctor’s Hospital in Seguku, Entebbe Road, says contraceptives do not have any effect on one’s body though he does not recommend them being used by teenagers.

He wonders why a mother would encourage their daughter to use contraceptives rather than offering parental counselling and guidance. To him, encouraging adoloscents to use contraceptives means parents have given them leeway to have sex, which exposes them to sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea.
“Birth control pills do not have serious effects on women’s bodies. The body clears them very fast. That is why they are swallowed regularly. However, I do not advise teenagers to use them because they may become sexually active and get exposed to other STIs,” Dr Nsubuga says.

Shallon Ainembabazi, a counselling psychologist, at Medical Teams International, says there are several factors that make teenagers to become sexually active. These range from parents failing to provide for their children, peer influence, mistreatment at home, and parents’ behaviour at home.

Dr Jacent Asiimwe, the head of nutrition at ministry of health shares the same sentiment with Dr Nsubuga.
“I know contraceptives are made for women in the reproductive age (15-49) but I would not advise adolescents to take them. It makes them focus on not getting pregnant at the expense of getting STDs like HIV and Hepatitis,” Dr Asiimwe explains.

Dr Nsubuga says contraceptives are not only taken to prevent pregnancy but can also be used by girls diagnosed with a hormone imbalance which causes irregular menstrual periods. The birth control pills lower hormone levels and regulate menstrual periods.

Sarah Opendi, the state minister for primary healthcare, while launching a five-year campaign against child marriages last month in Kampala, called upon parents and schools to sensitise adolescents.
The minister blamed parents, cultural and religious leaders who sabotage their efforts to address teenage pregnancies through family planning methods.

“When we talk of using condoms you criticise us. We talk of using contraceptives you still blame us. It is no longer a matter of argument because young girls and boys are sexually active. So, how should we address this problem?” Opendi wondered.

Like Dr Nsubuga, Asiimwe emphasises that most young women who take birth control pills have few or no problems. However, the duo encourage contraceptive users to contact a physician in case they develop conditions such as severe abdominal or stomach pain, severe chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, severe headache, dizziness, weakness, numbness, and eye problems.

Ainembabazi cautions that when a parent responds instantly after learning that her daughter is sexually active, it may worsen the situation. She says taking some time before speaking on the subject can safeguard one from being judgmental on your child.

“Try to be calm and rational in whichever manner possible. Even though this can be a very expressive issue, it is going to be more real to leave the emotions out of the chat if you are to forge away forward,” she says.

HELPFUL TIPS
Prevalence. Felistars Koire, a nursing officer at Butaleja Health Centre, at a public dialogue organised by Reach A Hand Uganda, said 100 of the 300 pregnant women that visit the health centre in a month are girls aged 13 and 18 years.

handling sexually active

Show the teenager that you care about her and want her to make good decisions. This will depend on your value system.

Ainembabazi says as the parent, you can decide what principles guide your family. So, you can tell your teenager that you do not want her to have sex until marriage and set the limit around how much supervision is necessary when spending time with the opposite sex.

She stresses you might deliberate on the potential outcomes such as pregnancy or STDs, and how to stay safe. It is important to remember that, in all honesty, you are perhaps not going to be able to dictate the choices your child makes. Instead, focus on what you control.

Dr Nsubuga vouches for abstinence, being faithful and using condoms (ABC) instead of contraceptives. This, he says, is effective to prevent teenage pregnancies and spread of STIs.

Ainembabazi calls for continued parental counselling and engagement so that children can be able to share their challenges. She also warns parents against dodging questions related to sexuality. To her, a parent is the primary source of information and children trust their words more than any other person.

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