Family planning officials want men to get more involved because women are mostly just using the pill. The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council in Matabeleland South is pushing long-acting contraceptive methods, citing heavy reliance on short-term options. Provincial manager Gumbi noted sixty-four percent of women there use contraceptive pills, with Depo Provera at thirty-six percent. He revealed worrying STI data from last year, with most infections in adults aged twenty-four to forty-nine, and a high number of new cases in girls aged ten to nineteen due to economic pressures.
The council is promoting the Sayana Press self-injection method for its privacy and ease of use in rural areas. Gumbi stressed the need for community education and targeting male champions to influence household decisions. The goal is to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STI rates by shifting use toward more effective long-term contraceptives. They link the high adolescent STI numbers to transactional sex and a lack of proper sexual health information. The strategy focuses on sustained outreach and making various contraceptive choices more accessible to improve overall reproductive health outcomes.
The council is promoting the Sayana Press self-injection method for its privacy and ease of use in rural areas. Gumbi stressed the need for community education and targeting male champions to influence household decisions. The goal is to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STI rates by shifting use toward more effective long-term contraceptives. They link the high adolescent STI numbers to transactional sex and a lack of proper sexual health information. The strategy focuses on sustained outreach and making various contraceptive choices more accessible to improve overall reproductive health outcomes.
