DENYING access to contraception and sex education cannot stop young people from having sex, according to Marie Stopes PNG. Health programmes director Liesel Seehofer said the denial often led to unwanted pregnancies and limiting the hopes and dreams of young people. She said this resulted in greater cost to society through lower wages for women and increased population growth. “The impact of this is devastating,” Seehofer said.
“Complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death among young women aged between 15 and 19, many due to unsafe abortion. “Adolescents are often told that sex outside marriage is wrong. “Some countries have even created laws to block unmarried adolescents from accessing contraception. “When they do marry, often while still very young, they face pressure to have children almost immediately.” According to programme officer for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Debbie Kupesan, family planning and comprehensive sex education was a “best investment for women empowerment and prosperity”. “It is a human right and the women have the right to choose when and how many children they would want to have,” she said. “Around the globe, over 200 million women want to avoid pregnancy but do not have access because of many reasons including traditional cultural norms. “Over 59 million resort to traditional methods of family planning. “Most of them unreliable and not safe at all. “Some women resort to their husbands and in laws for consent before getting family planning or to make decision for them.” Kupesan said there was need for more awareness.
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