Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning PubHealthInfo

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PubHealth.info® (a subsidiary of PakMed) presents scientific information mainly based on abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health issues/topics, particularly encompassing population planning, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and communicable and non-communicable diseases (like HIV AIDS, malaria, etc) that are affecting a significant portion of population in developing and developed countries. Here you can find abstracts of articles published on a variety of public health topics under category "Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning". Contraception (birth control) is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant or giving birth. Therefore contraception is the utilization of various and sundry surgical procedures, devices, practices, agents, or drugs with the intention of preventing conception or impregnation (pregnancy). Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less controversial than abortion specifically.

YEAR: 1993

CATEGORY: Contraception (Birth Control) and Family Planning

TITLE

Natural family planning. Couples take chances [letter]

AUTHORS

Huezo C; Kleinman R; Walder R

SOURCE

BMJ. British Medical Journal. 1993 Oct 16;307(6910):1003.

ABSTRACT

An author of an article about natural family planning (NFP) in an earlier issue of the British Medical Journal contends

that NFP and modern contraceptive methods (e.g., oral contraceptives [OCs]) provide comparable effectiveness

against pregnancy. He uses data from a WHO multicountry study and a study of 20,000 women in Calcutta to support

his position that NFP is safe, reliable, and effective. IPPF staff agree with the author that health professionals

would accept another inexpensive, reliable, and safe family planning method. The author misrepresented the

studies' findings, however. He says that the pregnancy rate for the WHO study group was 1.5%. Yet, the women who

participated in the study and conceived included not only the 1.5% but also another 19.4% who did not identify their

fertile cycle or did not abstain as called for by NFP guidelines. The author failed to mention these women in his

review. The actual NFP failure rate for the WHO study group was 20.9%--a much higher rate than that for modern

contraceptive methods. The Calcutta study did not present enough information on the methodology or selection of

cases to allow comment. When both partners are very motivated, when the woman can always recognize signs of her

fertile period, and when the couple can truly avoid intercourse according to NFP guidelines, periodic abstinence is

an effective family planning method. Otherwise the woman is at great risk of conceiving. Many couples gamble and

do not abide by the guidelines. In reality, the author's assertion that NFP is as effective as OCs is clearly false.

IPPF considers NFP as one of many family planning choices. Couples choosing NFP should be told of its real

failure rates, the need to totally follow the abstinence rules, and the risk of pregnancy when those rules are not

followed. (PubHealth.info Document ID: CONT2T 4556-06)

PubHealth.info NOTE: The author(s) of this article titled, "Natural family planning. Couples take chances [letter]",

is(are) Huezo C; Kleinman R; Walder R. The source of this article is "BMJ. British Medical Journal. 1993 Oct

16;307(6910):1003.". This article was published in 1993 in English language(s). (PubHealth.info® Document ID:

CONT2T 4556-06. All rights reserved with PubHealth.info) PIN: 9556

This article is peer-reviewed.

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