Young girls in Macedonia use coca-cola and baking soda as contraceptives
Young girls in Macedonia use coca-cola and baking soda as contraceptives
In Macedonia contraception is a taboo subject not just between the elderly populations, but for younger generations too, suggesting that it is urgently necessary education to improved sexual and reproductive health of young population in the country.
"I do not know what oral contraception is, and my partner does not want to use condom, so I decided to use the example of my friend - after each sexual intercourse I shower myself with Coca-Cola, in order not to get pregnant"- says 17 year-old Emilia. She explained that there was no opportunity to discuss with her mother, who is very strict on this issue. Emilia is not the only one who is using coke instead of contraception. Two thirds of women in Macedonia do not use any kinds of contraceptive, and most of them believe that Coca-Cola and baking soda can prevent pregnancy. This is only part of the results of a survey conducted by Gallup BRIMA. Specifically, the results obtained from the survey conducted in June this year, under the slogan "Your life, your voice”, among 500 women in Macedonia, revealed that 94 percent of young women between 15 and 19 years and more than 50 percent Macedonian women were not using any contraceptives. Some of the girls who live in the cities cited that they use Coca-Cola and baking soda as contraception. They cited that they are convinced that it will prevent pregnancy. It just goes to show that in Macedonia contraception is a taboo subject not just with the elderly population, but also for the younger generation. It suggests an imminent need for education and awareness to improve the sexual and reproductive health of the young population in the country. Tatiana Gruzhanova, a gynecologist in the gynecology clinic, said a lack of awareness was resulting in such ignorant behavior. I have many girls ask me if they will not become pregnant if they wash with Coca-Cola or baking soda. Others ask me whether at the time of the menstrual cycle, they can become pregnant or can be pregnant if intercourse takes place standing. Non-information about contraception can lead to terrible consequences for women's health. Abortion carries a risk of major consequences for future reproductive period - Gruzhanova said. According to Dr. Brankica Mladenovic from Health Institutions - Skopje, most abortions are observed among the female population from 15 to 19 years of age. On an average 1,000 women per year undergo abortion. This is a very high average. Compared to developed countries including the Netherlands where in 1000 only five women miscarry. Emilija Trajkovska - gynecologist has dire numbers. She says that in her surgery she has attended women who were aborting for the 14th time but still wouldn't use any contraception. For safe sex life and family planning requires dual protection, said Dr. Trajkovska. According to her it means that the husband should use condoms and for the women - oral contraception determined by the gynecologist. Among Birth Control-pills available in the Macedonian market, 51 percent of women do not know any brand of Birth Control pills. Half of the women who do not use Birth Control-pill said that there is no reason that would have convinced her to start using. Such situations in the country and shocking figures confirm that the percentage of use of oral contraception among us is among the lowest in the world. Doctor Slavejko Sapunov, president of the Association of Gynecology says the use of protective equipment in pregnancy is barely two per cent, which again is due to the increased number of abortions. Experience has shown that oral contraceptive are used mostly in developed countries, where there is a higher level of education and awareness that translates into a lower rate of abortion. According to the BRIMA-GALLUP, which was prepared at the request of the pharmaceutical company Bayer HealthCare-Bayer Schering Pharma, interviewed about 500 people from the female population aged 15 to 45 years. As the result from survey, 119 of 500 women had made at least one abortion, almost equally Macedonian and Albanian. Over 61 percent of them told that so far never used contraception, and the remaining 39 percent said they used a tool or method. Summarized results indicate that 27.2 percent of partner used a condom, about 7.2 percent of women using oral contraception, and only 5 percent have decided on the spiral as a method of protection. Women aged between 15 to 24 years mostly used birth control pills. Analysis showed that about 130,000 women at least once made abortion, and 12 percent of them had a miscarriage, while 4000 women had nine or more abortions. Precisely because gynecology appeal to open more centers for education of young people on how to use contraception.
Young girls in Macedonia use coca-cola and baking soda as contraceptives
In Macedonia contraception is a taboo subject not just between the elderly populations, but for younger generations too, suggesting that it is urgently necessary education to improved sexual and reproductive health of young population in the country.
Natasha Dokovska
February 17, 2010
"I do not know what oral contraception is, and my partner does not want to use condom, so I decided to use the example of my friend - after each sexual intercourse I shower myself with Coca-Cola, in order not to get pregnant"- says 17 year-old Emilia. She explained that there was no opportunity to discuss with her mother, who is very strict on this issue. Emilia is not the only one who is using coke instead of contraception. Two thirds of women in Macedonia do not use any kinds of contraceptive, and most of them believe that Coca-Cola and baking soda can prevent pregnancy. This is only part of the results of a survey conducted by Gallup BRIMA. Specifically, the results obtained from the survey conducted in June this year, under the slogan "Your life, your voice”, among 500 women in Macedonia, revealed that 94 percent of young women between 15 and 19 years and more than 50 percent Macedonian women were not using any contraceptives. Some of the girls who live in the cities cited that they use Coca-Cola and baking soda as contraception. They cited that they are convinced that it will prevent pregnancy. It just goes to show that in Macedonia contraception is a taboo subject not just with the elderly population, but also for the younger generation. It suggests an imminent need for education and awareness to improve the sexual and reproductive health of the young population in the country. Tatiana Gruzhanova, a gynecologist in the gynecology clinic, said a lack of awareness was resulting in such ignorant behavior. I have many girls ask me if they will not become pregnant if they wash with Coca-Cola or baking soda. Others ask me whether at the time of the menstrual cycle, they can become pregnant or can be pregnant if intercourse takes place standing. Non-information about contraception can lead to terrible consequences for women's health. Abortion carries a risk of major consequences for future reproductive period - Gruzhanova said. According to Dr. Brankica Mladenovic from Health Institutions - Skopje, most abortions are observed among the female population from 15 to 19 years of age. On an average 1,000 women per year undergo abortion. This is a very high average. Compared to developed countries including the Netherlands where in 1000 only five women miscarry. Emilija Trajkovska - gynecologist has dire numbers. She says that in her surgery she has attended women who were aborting for the 14th time but still wouldn't use any contraception. For safe sex life and family planning requires dual protection, said Dr. Trajkovska. According to her it means that the husband should use condoms and for the women - oral contraception determined by the gynecologist. Among Birth Control-pills available in the Macedonian market, 51 percent of women do not know any brand of Birth Control pills. Half of the women who do not use Birth Control-pill said that there is no reason that would have convinced her to start using. Such situations in the country and shocking figures confirm that the percentage of use of oral contraception among us is among the lowest in the world. Doctor Slavejko Sapunov, president of the Association of Gynecology says the use of protective equipment in pregnancy is barely two per cent, which again is due to the increased number of abortions. Experience has shown that oral contraceptive are used mostly in developed countries, where there is a higher level of education and awareness that translates into a lower rate of abortion. According to the BRIMA-GALLUP, which was prepared at the request of the pharmaceutical company Bayer HealthCare-Bayer Schering Pharma, interviewed about 500 people from the female population aged 15 to 45 years. As the result from survey, 119 of 500 women had made at least one abortion, almost equally Macedonian and Albanian. Over 61 percent of them told that so far never used contraception, and the remaining 39 percent said they used a tool or method. Summarized results indicate that 27.2 percent of partner used a condom, about 7.2 percent of women using oral contraception, and only 5 percent have decided on the spiral as a method of protection. Women aged between 15 to 24 years mostly used birth control pills. Analysis showed that about 130,000 women at least once made abortion, and 12 percent of them had a miscarriage, while 4000 women had nine or more abortions. Precisely because gynecology appeal to open more centers for education of young people on how to use contraception.
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