Family Planning and Economic Development in Africa

Family planning involves the practice of applying contraceptives or voluntary sterilization as a means of controlling the number of children a woman conceives based on one's birth intervals. This healthy practice comes with various benefits that not only benefit women, but the world as well in terms of reducing the rate of childbirth. The aim of this research is to examine family planning in the context of African communities and critically evaluate some of the influences of this healthcare practice in connection to economic development mainly in African countries. Family planning is effective in relation to its contribution towards economic development for women, communities, and families worldwide. When family planning services become easily accessible for all women across all social classes, women in most cases make a choice of having a small family and tend to work hard to make the family comfortable through the accumulation of wealth.

The country perceives the use of contraceptive for population management is an essential basic human right and hold the key to unlocking the economic development of a country (Cleland, et al, 2010). South Africa reports 60-percent women approximately ages 15 to 49 who apply modern family planning methods as opposed to 20-percent of women from sub-Sahara Africa (BSA, 2016). The South African government continues to expand its family planning agendas and is part of the 2020 Family Planning mission of increasing the application of contraceptive among women and adult girls across the nation. Family planning has enabled African countries averagely manage the rate of fertility as a result of reducing unintended pregnancies and delaying childbirth until one is financially and emotionally ready. Thus, access to family planning methods in South Africa and other parts of Africa such as the sub-Sahara region has greatly contributed to women pursuing advanced education and venturing into professional fields (Chola, et al, 2015).

Countries such as Egypt, Angola, among others that have embraced family planning and continue to enjoy opportunities for economic development while reducing the cost risk of health among women and children. This has resulted in increased access to employment and education among women and children, thus improving the possibilities of these countries developing economically as more women are being recruited into high paying labor markets. Efforts to educate and empower more women in Africa and globally has majorly contributed to fertility and poverty decline in many parts of African (Cleland, et al, 2010). This decline is as a result of support for family planning programs over the years making women active in various economic development agendas in across Africa. Most African countries such as Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, among others who promote the use of family planning among women and adult girls have managed to ease the burden in many schools.

They do not feel the need to see and act on the link between low population and economic development as well as healthier families. Therefore, family planning has contributed to the economic development of many African countries over the years. Countries that have fully embraced this practice continue to mint its economic benefits as those applicable in developed nations and vice versa. In conclusion, the introduction of family planning in Africa and parts of the world has been a major contributor in relation to the economic status of women and most African countries. By giving women an option to decide when or whether to have a child through various family planning methods has enabled women to participate in high education and venture in high paying professional careers.