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How John Stopped His Family Getting Any Larger
***In Africa one of the least used forms of birth control is vasectomy. People do not even talk about it. In Kenya, which has the fastest-growing population in Africa, an attempt is being made to encourage men to undertake the brief, virtually painless operation. One man who underwent vasectomy is John Maina, father of six. A Gemini News Service correspondent tells his story, by James Jura****
JOHN Maina is a rare man in Africa. He has not only had vasectomy but also speaks freely about it In the continent few men dare pronounce the word, let alone consider undergoing the operation
Maina says he did it for the love of his wife and he does not regret It He explains : "We have six children and ft is my wife who carried each one of them." Since the birth of the fifth the couple had been using condoms. The method failed and they found themselves expecting the sixth.
The two were certain they had the number of children they could comfortably support and Maina says he did not want to add any further burden on his wife regarding contraception
Maina works as a driver for the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). and he did not go Into the operation without much soul-searching. He says he did it in recognition of his position as head of the family, given the responsibility by God for the total welfare of the family
He attended seminars on vasectomy held by CHAK and during one tn Kakamega district he became convinced by the evidence that the method was simple, had no health complications and the result was permanent.
He still had some doubts, so he saw dr Geoffrey Irvine, then the medical coordinator, and asked: “1* it true that one ceases to be a taan after vasectomy?" The fear is widespread that vasectomy causes impotence. The other question was : "Is It painful?"
Irvine assured Maina that hl* "manhood" would remain almost Intact, the only difference being that he would no longer father children. As for pain, it was almost painless, requiring only focal anaesthe •*• and taking about 15 minute* Io perform.
Maina had one more step to take; io talk it over with his
wife, she had never heard of vasectomy, but when Maina explained she gave her consent.
All this happened In 1986. In Kijabe Hospital the doctor Interviewed Maina to make sure Maina knew what vasectomy was all about, that it Is irreversible and that one cannot father any more children. At the end of the interview the doctor always asks again whether the patient is sure he wants to go ahead.
It Is said that men fall into great depression after vasectomy. Maina says there was no change in his sexual performance. except that his wife was happier and more relaxed because she had no fear of pregnancy. Maina says: "It enriched our relationship a great deal".
Maina says he has not received any ridicule as a result of the vasectomy, but men often want to talk to him when he relates his experience at seminars. As they open up to him he realises their main fear is of impotency.
As for payment for the operation. the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contra-cepUon (AVSC) pays Sh450 for each paUent who attends a mission hospital. The patient pays ShlOO.
. AVSC was started in the forties in the United States. In those days it was difficult for men to get sterilised. A group got together and identified doctors who could operate.
The organisation spread to Latin America. Africa and Asia. I started operating in Kenya in 1986. Dr Pamela Lynam. medical consultant for AVSC. says 200 Kenyan men have had vasectomy in AVSC-supported sites. More may have been done elsewhere.
Dr Lynam says they are now spreading awareness to men and women of "mini-laparotomy." a tubal ligation which takes 15-20 minutes. A woman can go home the same day. The option for men is scalpel vasectomy. — QUQM NEWS