A Kiambu nurse has urged young women and girls within the county to embrace the use of contraceptives as a family planning method, in a bid to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Speaking from her office on Thursday, Teresia Mbua, a nursing officer from Kiambu District Hospital said increased access to contraceptives for young women and girls plays a role in reducing the rate of adolescent pregnancy and its devastating effects.
"Use of contraceptives will help the young girls and women plan for their families by bearing children they can be able to support. Bearing many children who you cannot adequately provide for is a call for more responsibilities which translates to poverty," she said.
According to Mbua, lack of information about family planning methods and myths related to the side effects are commonly reported by young people as reasons for not using contraceptives.
"Young people need knowledge and information to make informed decisions about how they can protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies in a way that is consistent with their own values," she said.
The nursing officer noted that majority of young women have limited control over their choice of contraceptives.
She said that they often do not have the power to negotiate contraceptive use with their partners and family planning decisions may perhaps be made for them by their parents, partners and spouses or in laws.
The officer further urged the young girls and women to always seek medical consultation from medical personnel before settling on a particular family planning method.
This way, she said, one will be advised on the best type of contraceptive to use depending on various factors.
She further revealed that plans are underway for the hospital to organise workshops for sensitisation of women and girls with regard to family planning so as to reduce birth rates which are unplanned for in the county.