By Ben Musanje
A candid testimony by a television journalist that she experienced an increased sexual urge after using a newer intrauterine device (IUD) sparked wide-ranging discussions on family planning, stigma, artificial intelligence, commodity stockouts and reproductive health services during a Science Café organized by the Health Journalists Network in Uganda (HEJNU).
The discussion took place at Kamwokya, Kampala during the First Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Alliance Uganda Media Community of Practice (CoP) Science Café held under the theme, “Reporting Contraceptive Stockouts in Public Health Facilities: Investigating What Works.” The event was organized by HEJNU in partnership with the WISH Policy and Systems Programme, BBC Media Action and the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) in Kamwokya, Kampala.
The meeting brought together Ministry of Health officials, pharmacists, reproductive health experts and journalists to discuss the availability of contraceptives, challenges facing users and the government’s strategies for improving access to family planning services across the country.
One of the most striking moments came during the question-and-answer session when Mariam Chipo of Gugude TV shared her personal experience as a user of an intrauterine device.
“I appreciate the recent developments, especially the IUDs,” Chipo told the gathering. “The previous one used to bring some problems, but right now I have experienced one. I am a user, and it is bringing too much urge.”
While expressing satisfaction with what she described as improvements in newer contraceptive technologies, Chipo raised concerns about community perceptions as government plans to take family planning services closer to the people through community health extension workers.
She questioned whether expanding family planning services into communities could expose women to stigma.
“If family planning is extended into the community, isn’t it going to start tarnishing the names of the users, turning them into malayas (sex workers)? How is the government going to deal with that?” she asked.
Her concerns echoed broader fears that women who openly seek contraceptive services continue to face social judgment despite years of public awareness campaigns promoting reproductive health.
Other journalists also raised concerns about misinformation and side effects associated with different contraceptive methods.
Serina Nagujja of NSTV questioned misconceptions surrounding long-term family planning methods, including widespread beliefs that women who undergo permanent contraceptive procedures later regret the decision or become unable to conceive if they change their minds later in life.
Nagujja also sought clarification on the Ministry of Health’s plans to integrate artificial intelligence into family planning services.
She asked how AI could practically help women experiencing complications associated with contraceptive methods such as IUDs, including infections, side effects or unintended pregnancies.
Jael Namiganda of Metro FM highlighted what she described as growing confusion among first-time family planning users, particularly regarding hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs.
She observed that many women rely on internet searches for information, only to become confused about the different types of devices available and their possible side effects.
Namiganda questioned whether pharmacies would provide sufficient counselling and written instructions comparable to those offered in hospitals before dispensing contraceptives.
Radio Simba journalist Khalid Kintu shifted attention to Uganda’s high rates of teenage pregnancy, citing experiences shared from Tororo District where girls as young as 12 years reportedly become mothers.
He asked government officials when young people should ideally begin accessing family planning information and services to prevent early pregnancies.
Uganda Radio Network reporter Flavia Nassaka focused on regulation and affordability.
She questioned how government intends to supervise private pharmacies and clinics as they increasingly become providers of contraceptive services.
Nassaka also asked whether government plans to subsidize contraceptive commodities in the private sector to prevent exploitation, noting that some private health facilities charge as much as Shs300,000 for certain family planning methods.
She further wanted to know whether scientific research is underway to reduce the side effects associated with contraceptive products instead of simply advising women to switch from one method to another.
Bukedde Radio journalist Benon Nsubuga asked how digital platforms are facilitating access to contraceptive commodities, including online ordering of condoms, payment methods and delivery timelines.
Salt TV’s Muhammad Wamala questioned how government is balancing sexuality education in schools against resistance from parents and communities who oppose discussions about reproductive health among young people.
HEJNU President Esther Nakkazi broadened the debate by asking how government intends to reconcile increasing use of artificial intelligence among young people with legal and policy restrictions surrounding adolescent access to reproductive health information and services.
Nakkazi also questioned whether government was prioritizing rural districts, where teenage pregnancy remains high, over urban areas that generally have better access to reproductive health services.
She further sought clarification on the level of government funding committed to family planning compared to donor contributions and asked whether Uganda has a long-term demographic strategy that avoids future population decline similar to countries such as Japan.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Chris Ebong, Principal Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health’s Department of Reproductive and Child Health, acknowledged that side effects from contraceptive methods remain a reality for some women.
He noted, however, that others experience perceived rather than medically established side effects, underscoring the importance of proper counselling before and after choosing a family planning method.
Dr. Ebong said government has introduced a competency-based assessment tool aimed at strengthening the skills of health workers in counselling clients, managing side effects and providing quality reproductive health services.
According to him, the assessment goes beyond technical procedures such as inserting implants or administering injections by evaluating whether health workers can adequately educate clients, identify complications and provide appropriate treatment.
He said the Ministry is also strengthening supervision systems from national level down to districts to improve service delivery across public health facilities.
Earlier during the meeting, Dr. Ebong emphasized that family planning should not be viewed merely as a medical intervention but as a national development strategy.
He said enabling women and families to determine the timing and number of children they have contributes to improved productivity, better education outcomes for children and achievement of Uganda’s Vision 2040 development goals.
He explained that government is increasing funding for contraceptive commodities while working with development partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to address stockouts.
Government, he said, is also adopting what he described as a “total market approach,” allowing public health facilities to continue providing free contraceptives to those unable to pay while expanding access through pharmacies, drug shops and accredited private providers for clients who can afford the services.
Dr. Ebong added that bringing services closer to communities through community health extension workers aims to reduce barriers to access and eliminate long waiting times in overcrowded health facilities.
Senior Pharmacist Daniel Aguma from the Ministry of Health’s Department of Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicines said digital innovation is increasingly transforming family planning service delivery.
He told journalists that government has introduced an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot capable of providing information on contraceptive options, directing users to nearby service providers and advising clients on management of common side effects.
Aguma added that digital pharmacies have also emerged as important channels through which Ugandans can order contraceptive products, including condoms and emergency contraceptive pills, particularly following innovations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He emphasized that family planning commodities include both medicines and medical devices such as intrauterine devices and noted that clients should work closely with trained health workers to identify the most suitable contraceptive option based on their individual health needs.
Throughout the Science Café, participants repeatedly returned to concerns surrounding misinformation, social stigma and the need for accurate reporting on reproductive health issues.
Ministry officials urged journalists to provide balanced, evidence-based reporting that distinguishes between different contraceptive methods, accurately reports commodity stockouts and helps the public understand the benefits and limitations of each option.
The discussions underscored the growing role of the media not only in reporting shortages and policy developments but also in combating myths, improving public understanding and supporting informed decision-making on family planning across Uganda.
