Planning to Space Your Family? Let Bliss Healthcare Assist You

Provision of Family Planning is a very important health intervention for improving health and the wellbeing of women and their families. In Kenya, Family Planning is the first of the 6 pillars of Safe Motherhood and also the first of the 4 prongs of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

For a long time, Family Planning has been recognized as a key strategy for the achievement of national and international development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the social and economic pillars of the Kenya Vision 2030. The Bill of Rights in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 has recognized Reproductive Health as a basic human right just like food, clothing and shelter. This means all women and girls in need of these services have the right to access them either in the private, public or faith-based institutions, including all information on the benefits and limitations.

Whereas family planning is a right, the recent estimates (World Bank, 2019) show that there is still a gap in the utilization of Family Planning products, with the modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) being 59.7% and the unmet need for family planning standing at 18%. These gaps have been associated with factors such as logistical, social and behavioral barriers to meeting the contraceptive needs and wishes of individuals and couples, as well as obstacles that stem from the organization of the services. Bliss Healthcare is committed to addressing these gaps.

Thus, if you are looking to limit the number of children you want or space them; whether for medical, financial reasons or other reasons, then Bliss Healthcare’s team of qualified and highly skilled clinical staff are ready to assist you with affordable services. The family planning services assumes a holistic view of clients in all our centres. They take into account the patients’ sexual and reproductive healthcare needs and considering all appropriate eligibility criteria and practice recommendations.
The following Family Planning services are available and provided at our facilities across the Bliss Healthcare network:

1. Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD)A small plastic T-shaped device with copper coiled on it inserted into the uterus by a qualified health professional to prevent conception from taking place.
2. Benefits of this method are:-
   • High effectiveness and safety
   • Provides immediate protection after insertion
   • Long-acting protection (copper based - 12 years, hormone releasing - 5 years)
   • Does not require client action for efficacy
   • Can be used immediately after delivery (copper based)
   • Client has no further cost following insertion
   • Immediate return to fertility upon removal of device
   • Copper IUCD is effective as an emergency contraceptive if
   • Inserted within 5 days of unprotected sexual intercourse
   • Does not interfere with breastfeeding hence can be used by women who are breastfeeding
   • IUCDs do not interfere with intercourse
   • IUCDs help prevent ectopic pregnancies
   • IUCDs might help protect from endometrial cancer


3. ImplantsThese are small hormone-release rods inserted under the skin on the arm to preventconceptionfrom taking place.
     
4. Benefits of using this method are:-
   • Highly effective and offers long term protection against pregnancy
   • Does not interfere with act of sexual intercourse
   • Effective within 24 hours after insertion
   • No frequent clinic visits required
   • Fertility returns almost immediately after implants are removed


5. PillsThey are contraceptive pills containing one or two hormones taken either daily or for 21 days to prevent conception from taking place.
    
6. Benefits of these methods include:-
   • Highly effective if used correctly and consistently
   • Are effective immediately if given within the first 5 days of the cycle
   • Easy to use
   • They are safe for the majority of women
   • Reduction of menstrual flow (lighter, shorter periods)
   • Decrease in painful periods
   • Reduction of symptoms of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
   • Improvement and prevention of iron - deficiency anemia
   • Protection against ovarian and endometrial cancer
   • Possible protection from symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease
   • Treatment for acne and hirsutism


7. InjectableThis is a hormone containing jab given on the upper arm once in every 3 months to prevent conception from taking place.
    
8. Benefits of these methods include:-
   • They are highly effective and safe
   • Convenient as it doesn’t require daily action
   • Do not affect breast milk production hence can be used during breastfeeding
   • Are private: No one else can tell that a woman is using the method
   • Reduction of menstrual flow (lighter, shorter periods)
   • Caseation of menstrual bleeding, which might be beneficial for women with (or at risk of) iron-deficiency anemia
   • Reduction of symptoms of endometriosis
   • Protection against endometrial cancer
   • Protection against uterine fibroids
   • Possible prevention of ectopic pregnancy
   • Possible protection from pelvic inflammatory disease

Each of the methods mentioned above has its limitations and times when it can and cannot be used; and this cannot be emphasized enough.