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Family Planning
There is still a need for family planning information to people in rural areas. Many people don?t have access to this information which has increased Myths and misconception about family planning. At times cultural beliefs have also contributed much especially in some tribes like Bakonjo in south west of Uganda and the Sebei community in Eastern part of Uganda don?t believe in family planning programs.

Religion is such as Catholics are against family planning programs yet we need them because they can help disseminate information on the benefit of family planning to local people during their congregation meetings.
Engaging all leaders at a local level through community structures is another way to extend family planning messages to communities.

Existing community structures such as Tribe leaders, Religious leaders, landlords, councilors, mothers and father?s unions will help much in breaking the silence and disseminate family planning information and end Myths and Misconceptions.

Engaging men as community change makers is also an approach to encourage men to participate in family planning sessions at community levels. This will also encourage more women to participate in health programs. Many women are discouraged by their husbands but when they are also engaged it increase on the women?s knowledge about Reproductive health and Family Planning. This has contributed to shifting knowledge, attitudes and practices of the community in relation to family planning and Reproductive Health in Communities.

This has been achieved through the following objectives:

. To dispel myths and misconceptions about family planning.
. Address the specific fears and concerns among couples regarding family planning methods
. Create a positive (and desired) image of people who use modern family planning methods.
. Encourage listeners to seek more information about family planning.

Frequently Asked Questions (myths and misconceptions)

Q: What are some of the side effects of using family planning methods and how can they be handled?
A: Some women may experience headaches, irregular bleeding, mild abdominal pain, weight change among others. These can all be managed and disappear with time but if they get worse, then you should visit the health facility/health worker.

Q: Do family planning methods such as the pill cause birth defects??
A: No, evidence shows that pills will not cause birth defects and will not harm the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while taking the pills or accidentally takes the pills when she is already pregnant.

Q: Does the pill cause cancer?
A: The Pill actually provides a protective effect from cancer of the ovaries and cancer of the endometrial (the lining of the uterus).

Q: Do some family planning methods such as the pill make a woman infertile?
A: When a woman goes off the family planning method, it may take a few months for cycles to return to normal or for her to get pregnant. It could be argued that being on the some family planning methods such as the pill actually contributes to the preservation of women’s fertility as it reduces the incidence of a number of conditions which impact on fertility (eg. ectopic pregnancies, and fibroids).

Q: Does vasectomy makes a man lose his sexual ability? Does it make him weak or fat?
A: No. After vasectomy, a man will look and feel the same as before. He can have sex the same as before. His erections will be as hard and last as long as before, and ejaculations of semen will be the same. He can work as hard as before, and he will not gain weight because of vasectomy.

Q Will a woman loose her sexual desire after getting her tubes tied?
A: Tubal ligation will not make the woman to lose sexual desire. In fact, she may enjoy sex more without the fear of pregnancy.

Q: Where can I get more information about family planning for family planning?
A: From a health facility with the sign of the rainbow over the yellow flower.

What Can You Do?
-Even small donations help us raise awareness in rural areas on these topics.

–Larger donations of $20 or more can help us to purchase contraceptive methods such as condoms for distribution in areas where there is less access to family planning services.