Why should I plan my family

Every year, half a million women die of problems from pregnancy, childbirth, and unsafe abortion. Most of these deaths could be prevented by family planning. For example, family planning can prevent dangers from pregnancies that are:

• too soon. Women under the age of 18 are more likely to die in childbirth because their bodies are not fully grown. Their babies have a greater chance of dying in the first year.
• too late. Older women face more danger in child bearing, especially if they have other health problems or have had many children.
• too close. A woman’s body needs time to recover between pregnancies.
• too many. A woman with more than 4 children has a greater risk of death after childbirth from bleeding and other causes.

Sources

• Burns, A. A., Niemann, S., Lovich, R., Maxwell, J., & Shapiro, K. (2014). Where women have no doctor: A health guide for women. Hesperian Foundation.
• Audiopedia ID: en020403