South Sudan: Once Frowned On, Family Planning Offers a Lifeline in South Sudan

Malakal — Life is harsh in the northern city of Malakal. Once a vibrant commercial hub, it is now essentially a ghost town, its residents crammed into a protection camp on the city's outskirts. Even there, safety is not assured. In February, the camp was convulsed by fresh violence, forcing thousands to flee.

Yet traditional attitudes still dictate that women avoid family planning - not in spite of the hardship and hostilities, but because of it. It is often said that South Sudanese women should have more children to make up for those lost during the decades of conflicts that have plagued this new nation.

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