FAMILY PLANNING

FAMILY PLANNING

Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and management, and infertility management.

Family planning is sometimes used as a synonym for the use of birth control, though it often includes more. It is most usually applied to a female-male couple who wish to limit the number of children they have and/or to control the timing of pregnancy also known as spacing children. Family planning may encompass sterilization, as well as pregnancy termination.

Family planning services are defined as "educational, comprehensive medical or social activities which enable individuals, including minors, to determine freely the number and spacing of their children and to select the means by which this may be achieved." Raising a child requires significant amounts of resources such as time, social, financial, environmental. Planning can help assure that resources are available.Family planning services help men and women of child-bearing age make reproductive health care decisions. The benefits of family planning extend well beyond the individual seeking advice or treatment. Access to these services empowers people to make appropriate choices for their lifestyle and have a positive impact on society. A variety of methods are used to ensure important messages are received and applied accordingly.

Family planning's beginnings are often associated with the birth control pill revolution of the 1960s. During this time, society started redefining the way it looked at issues such as unwed pregnancy and sexual freedom. Advances in medicine have contributed to the variety of contraceptive methods available. Today's family planning measures seek to educate the masses on making socially and personally responsible reproductive decisions.

There are many types of family planning programme. Family planning services fall into the two major categories of education and treatment. The primary focus of education is to provide prevention tips and other useful knowledge before adverse situations occur. For example, campaigns to address issues of unintended pregnancies, fertility and STDs are common family planning education themes. The primary focus of family planning treatment services is to screen, diagnose and remedy health conditions. Prevention methods and follow up care is provided to ensure the individual is prepared for the future. Treatment may also include medication therapy to address chronic illnesses and contraceptive dispensing.

The benefits of family planning reach well beyond the consenting individual's renewed sense of empowerment and health. Society benefits from family planning in a number ways including decreased cases of STDs and unintended pregnancies. The financial burden of paying for preventable conditions is often lowered. For example, the cost of providing prenatal care for unintended pregnancies is usually reduced through family planning outreach measures.

An individual's outlook on life and economic condition may affect their desire or ability to seek family planning services. Reaching out to high risk groups is necessary to reach family planning goals. This can be done by making services affordable and convenient to attend. Home visits and transportation may be scheduled to ensure those in need are reached.

Although much focus is placed on women receiving family planning education, men also face family planning issues. Contraceptive usage and parental readiness issues affect individual across gender lines. For example, since complications from untreated STDs can lead to infertility, it's important to include men in the conversation. Family planing services help married couples as well as unwed individuals and couples.