On World Contraception Day, a health official from Bauchi state warned that unplanned pregnancies are more common among married women than among their unmarried counterparts in the state, and called on couples to make greater use of family‑planning services.
The official, speaking on behalf of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, said the pattern underscores a need for increased awareness and access to contraceptive methods for married couples, who may assume they are less at risk of unintended pregnancy.
Unplanned pregnancies remain a public‑health concern across Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where high fertility rates and limited use of modern contraception contribute to maternal and child health challenges.
Family‑planning programmes in the region aim to provide information on a range of contraceptive options, from short‑term methods such as pills and injectables to longer‑acting solutions like intrauterine devices, with the goal of enabling couples to plan pregnancies according to their health and socioeconomic circumstances.
The Bauchi official’s remarks are part of broader efforts to mark World Contraception Day, an annual observance that highlights the importance of reproductive health services and encourages governments, NGOs, and communities to expand access to safe, affordable contraception.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>