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Faith andFamily Planning:
What’s the Connection?
USAID: Funder
JSI & FHI 360: Implementers
CCIH:Sub-grantee
USAID’s Advancing Partners & CommunitiesFunding Structure
CCIH defines family planning as “enabling couples to determine the number and timing of pregnancies, including the voluntary use of methods for preventing pregnancy-not including abortion-that are harmonious with their values and beliefs.”
220 million women…
When a woman’s need for family planning is not
satisfied—it can lead to serious
consequences for
women, their families, communities, and a
nation.
Unmet need is especially high among:
Adolescents/young women
Migrant women
Urban slum dwellers
Refugees
Postpartum women
Reasons for not using contraception
1.Concerns about health risks and side effects
2. Infrequent sex3.Partner/family opposition
Barriers to access, affordability, cultural and religious influences, lack of knowledge
Consequences of unmet need for FP
Unplanned pregnancies
Unmet need for FP
•Abortion•Serious injuries or death
•Unplanned children
Unplanned pregnancies
•22 million fewer unplanned births
•15 million fewer unsafe abortions
•90,000 fewer maternal deaths
If all unmet need was
met
In developing countries, 90% of adolescent pregnancies occur within marriage
Women who delay childbearing and plan for HTSP are healthier and more productive
HIV prevention is also of key importance—especially for young women.
Think outside the box: integration
Family planning
PMTCT
OVC programming
WASH
Economic strengthening
Other Health and non-
health services
HIV prevention
Nutrition
Maternal and Child Health
Immunizations
Religion Matters
Faith-Based Organizations & Faith Entities
● FBOs = Faith Based Non-Profits (Usually)
● Faith Entities = everybody else○ Churches, Mosques, Synagogues○ Universities○ Interfaith coalitions○ Health Systems
Faith-Based Clinical SystemsIn CCIH’s Global South Partner Countries, these systems...• Comprise over 75% of private, nonprofit health
facilities in Uganda• Provide 40% of health care in Kenya• Provide 30% of health care in Zambia
In the Washington DC Metro Area, we have:Holy Cross Hospital – CatholicGeorgetown University Hospital – CatholicWashington & Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals
Christian Diversity and Family Planning
• Contraception• Abortion• Age of use• Appropriate methods• Interest
What Christians say about family planning:
“The United Methodist Church supports the right for men and women worldwide to have the ability to choose when, or if, to have children.”
The National Association of Evangelicals: “From the beginning, God established multiple purposes for sex and granted humans a stewardship role over his creation, so there is legitimacy in family planning and the use of ethical means of contraception.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “A couple may generously decide to have a large family, or may for serious reasons choose not to have more children for the time being or even for an indefinite period.”
Faith and family planning: What’s the connection?
• Committed to serving the poor and disadvantaged
• Long-term presence in their communities
• Deep and trusted relationships with their communities
• Strong Leadership
Questions from Moderator:1) Do community attitudes on family planning differ when learning
about them through faith institutions?2) Is there a difference in the way you talk about family planning and
the uptick you see in services?
UPMB’s Family Planning Activities with Faith Leaders in Uganda
Other Strategies
• Counsel young married couples about delayed first pregnancy
• Support policies to limit early marriage• Educate through Christian groups and programs• Counseling by church-based community health
workers and peer counselors• Promote messages through scripture and sermons• Talk about gender issues and sexuality
Faith-Based Messaging• December 2014: Faith Matters: International Family
Planning from a Christian Perspective
• Purpose: How can FBOs/Faith Entities reach people who need education on and access to FP?
• Broad topics arose, including: gender roles; local leadership; economic-driven reasoning; male involvement; early child marriage & waiting to conceive; healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies
Messaging ActivityYou have been assigned a population group: married young women, men & boys, local faith leaders, or government officials . Which of these message(s) would resonate the most with your population? Can you think of theoretical or actual FBO programs that promote these messages?
1. Marital sex is a gift from God to experience and express His love.2. Empowering women & girls leads to better outcomes for themselves, their families, and their communities.3. True Manhood is not measured by the number of women slept with, but by keeping the same woman satisfied, safe and blessed for a lifetime. 4. Families who engage in HTSP are able to contribute more to their communities and are less of a burden on a community’s resources and safety net system.
THANK YOU!
Marta Pirzadeh, Technical OfficerFHI360
Maddie Orange Project Coordinator
www.ccih.org
http://www.advancingpartners.org/
