Ho, Sept. 8, GNA- Dr Mrs Henrietta Odoi-Agyarko, Deputy Director of Public Health, Ghana Health Services (GHS), has lauded the increasing number of men opting for vasectomy as a family planning method.
She said during the first half of the year, some 50 men had voluntarily undergone the surgical process, as compared to the 26 recorded during the same period in 2003.
Dr Mrs Odoi-Agyarko was addressing the Reproduction and Child Health Bi-Annual Meeting of the GHS, underway in Ho.
Vasectomy, is the surgical removal of parts of the ducts in the male genital organ, which discharges semen from the testicles. The permanent family planning method, was met with skeptism when it was launched in Ghana, last year.
Dr Mrs Odoi-Agyarko said while the use of modern methods of contraception was on the rise, traditional methods of abstinence, withdrawal and rhythm had decreased from 10 per cent in 1993 to eight per cent in 2003.
She said the use of modern methods rose from five per cent in 1988 to 19 per cent in 2003.
The modern techniques include barrier, injectable, clinical and permanent methods.
Dr Mrs Odoi-Agyarko, said Family Planning continued to play a pivotal role in achieving the overall objective of Reproductive Health in the country.