A sexual reproductive health specialist, Lesego Mokganya has revealed that 65% of pregnancies were unplanned while 35% were unwanted as contained in a study conducted in Francistown between 2007 and 2009. On a national scale, she said, the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey 2011 found that 50.2% of pregnancies were unplanned for. It is against this backdrop that the Ministry of Health yesterday introduced the hormonal birth controls; implanon (a matchstick-sized rod that is inserted in the arm to prevent pregnancy), and vaginal ring meant to offer variety in sexual reproductive health services. At the launch, deputy permanent secretary for preventive service, Dr Haruna Jibril said the unwanted pregnancies posed associated complications such as high maternal mortality, escalating unsafe abortions, teenage pregnancy and low involvement of males in sexual reproductive health issues.“Maternal mortality ratio for 2014 was at 151.6 and abortion related deathscame third in the causes of maternal mortality in Botswana,” he said.
