Low patronage of family planning contraceptives in the Upper East region has been cited as one of the key factors responsible for the growing poverty and malnutrition in the region.
Male dominance in decision- making and their dictatorial tendencies as well as ignorance, were some dynamics identified as directly responsible for the teaming rejection for contraceptive use, which is crucial in family planning practices.
Dr. James Akpablie, Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga on Wednesday, at the close of the maiden meeting for the year 2010, of the Upper East Regional Population Advisory Committee (RPAC).
He said unplanned births are high in the region and attributed the phenomenon to the fact that most men,especially the illiterate ones, vehemently reject any moves by their spouses
to use any form of contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancies and said it was a major cause of poverty in the area.
Dr. Akpablie, who is in charge of Public Health at the Regional irectorate of the Ghana Health Service,noted that population issues go beyond ordinary head count and said the standard of life of the people,including access to quality health care, education, good parenting, family
planning and housing among others,were key in considering population issues.
Dr. Akpablie said there was the urgent need to control population growth, especially in the Upper East Region, to give the people quality life, adding that, the poverty cycle would continue if education on family planning is not taken seriously because "we would continue to feed unplanned mouths as frequent as possible."
He acknowledged that the acceptance rate of contraceptive use and indeed family planning methods by the people, was too low, and said such situations measured the true status of the people's conditions, especially the level of poverty in the area.
He suggested a sustained dialogue with the people, especially men, in order to change their behaviour and said such a move was crucial for the region to realize the fight against poverty, by promoting the use of contraceptives as a way of checking unwanted pregnancies and births.
Dr. Akpablie observed that Infant mortality, even though was reducing, the Directorate is not comfortable with the rate of reduction, saying it is not too encouraging compared to the general national figures on malnutrition related deaths of children under five.
The health expert proposed to the District Assemblies in the region to establish supplementary feeding cites close to the people, to enable them to have access to food supplements
for their children to prevent incidences of malnutrition related deaths in children.