Published by the government of Zimbabwe
29 April 2002
The prevailing harsh economic climate in Zimbabwe has made it imperative for people to reduce the sizes of their families.
Gone are the days when people did not discuss their desired family sizes and left everything to nature.
Nowadays, some couples even divorce after the woman falls pregnant without the consent of the husband.
According to the Zimbabwe Demo-graphic and Health Survey of 1999, there has been an upward trend in the use of contraceptives in this country since 1984.
During that year, only 26,6 percent of women used contraceptives.
This was confirmed by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC).
ZNFPC programme manager for marketing and communication Mr Gibson Chiguri said that about 50 percent of Zimbabwean women use contraceptives for protection against pregnancy, representing an increase over past years.
The figures compare very well in both urban and rural areas.
"A total of 60 percent of urban women use contraceptives while 48 percent use them in the rural areas," said Mr Chiguri.
People thought it wise to maintain small families as Zimbabweans are battling against tough economic times.
"Our economy has been on a slow decline and the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme worsened things," said Mrs Tabitha Rugoyi of Waterfalls, Harare.
She said that the country's inflation rate has been rising at an alarming rate, peaking at above 116 percent, and the cost of basic commodities is now beyond the reach of many.
Very few families can still afford to have three meals per day as many are living below the poverty datum line.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe assistant public relations manager Mrs Imeda Shoko said the poverty datum line in February 2002 stood at $25 000 net salary per month.
"This figure is for a family of six people which includes the father, mother and four children," Mrs Shoko said.
The idea of having a large family during the colonial era as a status symbol in society is now over.
Mr Amos Mawoyo (76) of Mufakose in Harare said: "I have eight children who are all grown-up now and have their own families. I was able to provide for them as well as sending them all to school with the little money I earned as a messenger at a bank.
"Now, none of them would like to have more than four children.
"They are all afraid of having a large family like what I did. What will they feed them with?"
ZNFPC said the level of education within the community played a major role in the pattern of contraceptive use.
Among those women with no education, 41 percent use contraceptives, while the figures rose to 49 percent for those with primary education.
At least 60 percent of those with secondary education used contraceptives, and the figure rose to 69 percent for those with higher education.
There are various methods of family planning available in Zimbabwe. Some are short-term while others are long-term and preference to these differs according to age groups.
There are also permanent and irreversible methods, although these are very unpopular, especially with the men.
ZNFPC says a mere 0,1 percent of men between 40 and 44 years have volunteered to have vasectomy.
This is attributed to the belief by most men that they would not be able to perform effectively and enjoy sex with their partners after the operation.
They are also afraid of regretting later when they may decide to have more children.
With women, the younger ages who range from 15-34 years prefer the short methods while those aged 39 to 50 years prefer long-term ones.
The pill is the most popular with all the age groups as it is considered to be effective, easy to use, reversible and does not interfere with sexual activity.
"Contraception," said Mr Chiguri, "used to be unpopular with men, but with the education programmes which we conduct, their attitude has since changed and they now take an active role."
Only 14 percent of all men are said to be using condoms.
A mere 6 percent of married men use them for pregnancy protection, preferring their wives to use the wide array of methods at their disposal.
Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association publicity secretary Mr Peter Sibanda said traditional methods of family planning have always existed and are still being frequently used.
Mr Sibanda said the fact that before the advent of modern contraceptive methods people had large families does not mean that there were no birth control methods.
"One of the methods used was called 'kujamba gwenzi' (to jump over a shrub) where a woman would jump over a shrub while facing either to the east or west.
"She would not fall pregnant until she went to repeat the process but this time jumping in the opposite direction," said Mr Sibanda.
Other methods included abortion, which is widely practised to this day.
Mr Sibanda said there were cases in the past where women got pregnant while their infants were suckling, and ended up aborting.
"Though abortion was not encouraged, these women had no choice but to abort," said Mr Sibanda.
Mr Sibanda said modern family planning methods go against God's wish.
He said every number has its significance and God wants the numbers to be represented in the family.
"For example, number six stands for monarch, which means that every sixth-born has qualities of a ruler," said Mr Sibanda.
"If you decide to have two children only, and they both turn out to be miscreants, is this not what causes some people to end up looking for children to adopt?" he asked.
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