Family planning lags as myths persist

A meeting with women explaining the variety options for family planning and contraceptives

A meeting with women and men explaining the variety options for family planning and contraceptives. Copyright: Jonathan Torgovnik/Getty Images/Images of Empowerment

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<h1>Family planning lags as myths persist</h1>
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<p><strong>Episode 36</strong></p>
<p>Cultural and social norms, and myths about how modern contraceptives affect men’s virility are just some of the reasons why the uptake of contraception remains low in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite increasing demand.</p>
<p>This week on <em>Africa Science Focus</em>, Effie Chipeta from the Malawi College of Medicine tells us about the growing demand for contraceptives, while Tazirwa Chipeta speaks about the services available from the Family Planning Association of Malawi. Over in Uganda, Moses Odongo from the non-profit Family Medical Point tells us about outreach programmes among the lakeshore communities of Lake Victoria.</p>
<p>Is there something you want to know about science in Africa? Send us your questions from anywhere in the world and we’ll find an expert to answer them — text or voice message via WhatsApp to +254799042513.</p>
<p><strong><em>Africa Science Focus</em></strong><strong>, with Selly Amutabi.</strong></p>
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<p><em style="font-family: CaeciliaCom-55Roman, TimesNewRoman, serif; font-size: 18px;">This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.</em></p>
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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/podcast/family-planning-lags-as-myths-persist/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Episode 36

Cultural and social norms, and myths about how modern contraceptives affect men’s virility are just some of the reasons why the uptake of contraception remains low in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite increasing demand.

This week on Africa Science Focus, Effie Chipeta from the Malawi College of Medicine tells us about the growing demand for contraceptives, while Tazirwa Chipeta speaks about the services available from the Family Planning Association of Malawi. Over in Uganda, Moses Odongo from the non-profit Family Medical Point tells us about outreach programmes among the lakeshore communities of Lake Victoria.

Is there something you want to know about science in Africa? Send us your questions from anywhere in the world and we’ll find an expert to answer them — text or voice message via WhatsApp to +254799042513.

Africa Science Focus, with Selly Amutabi.

This programme was funded by the European Journalism Centre, through the European Development Journalism Grants programme, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.