Family Planning:
The Contraceptive Prevalence and Fertility Determinants Survey
(1990) revealed that only 6.7% of the Gambian population
uses contraceptives. Although agencies such as The Gambia
Family Planning Association (GFPA) encourage the use of contraceptives,
family planning continues to meet with resistance for a number
of reasons. One major factor that affects the utilization of contraceptives
is the husband’s role in determining the family
size.
Many husbands do not support the use birth control because they
desire to have many children. Another
deterrent to family planning is the practice of polygamy. In fact,
over half of married women and over a third of married men are
in a polygamous relationship.
Finally, many feel that family planning goes against the teaching
of Islam and the Koran. The Islamic Sharia Law encourages a pro-natalist
attitude and a preference for male children. A woman’s age and
educational status figure into her attitudes about family because
a woman with little education or
who marries at an early age is likely to have more children. According
to the WHO, in 2004, the birth rate was
4.6. Many West African women still desire to have reproductive
freedom and choose to take advantage of family planning methods,
such as the pill, which is usually offered free of charge and
without a prescription.
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Condom & Birth Control:
Condoms are available at Family Planning clinics. Survey data
indicate that contraceptive and condom use is low but is rising
in The Gambia. The contraceptive prevalence rate for modern methods
is about 13 percent (UNFPA, 2001 and
Maternal Mortality Survey, 2002). Condom use (for family planning
and/or STI/HIV/AIDS prevention) accounts
for less than a quarter of modern method use (UNFPA). While condoms
are not a popular family planning method, there is growing evidence
that condom use is increasing for STI/HIV/AIDS prevention, especially
among youth. A survey estimated condom use at 34 percent among
1,000 unmarried youth (NACP, 2001).
Depo - Provera injections are also available. By far the most
popular form of birth control is breast feeding, which is effective
for about two years. 15% of single females have been pregnant
once and over 65% of these pregnancies were unplanned. A legal
abortion is attainable, but two doctors must concur in order for
a woman to have a therapeutic abortion.
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Aids/HIV Clinics
Health 
