Family Planning

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 14, 9 February 1978, Page 6

Family Planning

by

Hineani Melbourne

“Men have as much responsibility in the spacing of pregnancies as women” says Dr Tillott of the Alice Bush Family Planning Clinic in Karangahape Road. Contraceptives are seen as important for the health of the mother and her family. Social conditions are greatly affected by the spacing of pregnancies. These are regarded as the basic reasons for the use of contraceptives. Maori and Polynesian patients face problems similar

to other patients but different languages and cultures do cause a few problems. An example of language misunderstanding was the recent publication in a newspaper of Vitamin C being used by unscrupulous people to give to Polynesians for abortions. The story was misunderstood and many people rang the Family Planning Clinic to see if they could buy the vitamin. But Vitamin C pills will not cause an abortion, it was only a big rip-off. There is also a misconception that there is a pill which will bring on a period. There is however only the ‘Morning After Pill’ whiclj is an emergency measure after one unprotected intercourse. It must be taken within a certain time. The big doses of hormones in the drug may be harmful if

taken for a long time. Costs at the Clinic are normally four dollars for a new patient, three dollars for return patients and then there is also the cost of the supplies. Beneficiaries and students are charged one dollar and if patients really can’t pay, free consultation and supplies are provided. There is a government grant for this purpose so it is notcharity. Husbands and boyfriends are encouraged to attend, and in fact many do take advantage of the benefits available.

People mostly come to the clinic in times of crisis, with unwanted pregnancies, pregnancy scares and also after S’birth when contraception is advised by the hospital. Ninety per cent of the patients who attend the clinic come aft,er they have been -told of the clinic by friends. Since the abortion bill the clinics have been busier. ‘‘Like many doctors we regret the closing of the Aotea Medical Aid Centre because the service was so good,” says Dr Tillott, “and since then we have been referring patients to a clinic in Australia, which involves a great deal of expense but there is little else we can do, as the position in the Public Hospitals is not very clear.”