Residents of Busia County have been urged to use the available methods of contraceptives to plan their families.
Busia County Director of Medical Services Dr Janerose Ambuchi said contraceptive uptake was still very low.
“We are currently at 30 per cent on contraceptive uptake which is low compared to 57 per cent nationally," she said.
She was speaking during a forum to mark World Contraceptive Day at Nambale Subcounty on Thursday, September 26.
Dr Ambuchi said a section of the residents fear what they term as the negative effects of contraceptive use while others have to seek consent from their spouses before making the decision on which method to use.
"Some are not able to visit the health facilities to get the contraceptives, while others believe contraceptives will make them sterile,” she said.
Dr Ambuchi said there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the use of contraceptives.
She encouraged residents to embrace the use of contraceptives as they are scientifically proven methods that are meant to control and plan families.
"We are carrying out a lot of sensitisation together with partners and community health promoters who visit households," she said.
Ambuchi said CHPs have also been trained to dispense some of these services.
The Director further expressed concern at the rising number of teenage pregnancies within the County.
"In 2022 we were at 18 per cent but now we are at 19 per cent in teenage pregnancy cases. In terms of sub counties, Bunyala is leading with 28 per cent, Butula at 23.65 per cent, Teso North at 23.2 per cent, Nambale at 22.9 per cent, Samia at 19.13 per cent, Teso South at 17.8 per cent, Teso Central 15.2 per cent and Busia-Matayos at 14 per cent,” she said.
She attributed these cases to poverty, poor parental guidelines and misconceptions among the youth.
Sheila Musimbi from Nambale Subcounty said using contraceptives has helped her to provide basic needs to the family without much strain because her family is well-planned.
She urged women to visit the health facilities and know the best method of contraceptive to use.
"Using contraceptives has helped me to manage my well-planned family as I am able to provide the basic needs of my children. I urge women in our county to visit health centres and learn the best method they can use for family planning," she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Josephat Onyango who urged the men to allow their wives to use contraceptives and the government to do more sensitisation in schools on teenage pregnancy.
“I want to plead with my fellow men that we allow our wives to use contraceptives as it will help us get the desired size of families which we can manage during these harsh economic times," Onyango said.
"The government should also increase sensitisation in schools on teenage pregnancy so that our children can have this information early."