Access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. Family planning is central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and it is a key driver for social and economic development. However, many women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using safe and effective family planning methods, for reasons ranging from lack of access to information or services to lack of support from their partners or communities and myths and misconceptions hindering the uptake. This threatens their ability to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.

According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, only 39% of people living in towns use contraceptives, largely due to unawareness of family planning options, lack of access, and myths about its side effects. Negative myths and misconceptions about family planning are a barrier to modern contraceptive use. This episode featuring Robina Anene - Reproductive Health Co-Ordinator Nairobi County, and Dr Daniel Oketch - Director of Technical Services at Mariestopes addresses and debunks the myths and misconceptions surrounding family planning in Kenya.