Misconceptions surrounding the use of the family planning contraceptive method – Simo Arm Implant – were clarified today by the Marie Stopes PNG.
The non-government organisation (NGO) has inserted the arm implants since 2011 and says it is becoming popular among women aged 25 to 29.
Effective family planning prevents maternal deaths as pregnancy in PNG places many women at considerable risks.
Marie Stopes PNG believes women, men and adolescents must be informed with the right information to empower them to make informed decisions.
While there are many contraceptive methods in the country, there are numerous misconceptions surrounding the implant and the expected changes a women’s body may experience.
Obstetrician from the Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr Arthur Elijah, said: “So when someone is on a form of family planning, because she is not releasing eggs, bodi save osem meri i no putim kiau. Bodi ino nap weistim taim lo bungim risos, because the body understands that there is no egg from which a pregnancy would eventuate from.”
Thus some women do not see their menstruation when on contraceptives.
Marie Stopes has trained over 500 people to carry out simple procedure of inserting the tubes under the non-primary arm.
MSPNG Service Delivery Director, Loretta Bele, said: “Annually we provide about 60 percent of family planning services. Half of those are implant services. We have 38 percent of women coming forward to receive the implant.”
More women between the ages of 25 to 29 are opting for it.
National Department of Health (NDoH) manager population and family health, Dr Edward Waramin, said: “At NDoH we noted that since 2014 the number of women coming forward to accept the implant is going up so quick. And that is very encouraging for the department and nation. As stated we want to ensure that our population is growing at a normal healthy rate that can be tied to development.”