FAMILY PLANNING AND SEX-PRESELECTION IN NIGERIA

Family planning is the act of having children by choice and not by chance. It involves child spacing and limiting the numbers of children according to ones socio economic class. Repeated unplanned child bearing puts tremendous strain on the health of the mother and the financial status of the family. Chronic ill health and premature death of infants and mothers may result. It equally creates emotional strain on all members of the family which can lead to unhappiness, broken homes and juvenile delinquency. In order to limit all these strains, family planning requires optimum attention to be accepted and practiced in every home.

There are two major forms of family planning viz: Natural Family Planning and Artificial Family Planning. Natural family planning includes Billing’s ovulation method, calendar method, etc. Artificial family planning includes the use of condom, pills, diaphragm, etc.

Sex-Preselection: This is the ability of the couple to pre-determine
the sex of their children, in order to have the desired child. This can be
determined using ovulation detections or through proper interpretation of the
woman's body signs (this last part has to do with the billings ovulation methods). Here, a woman monitors her body sign to determine both fertile and infertile periods. The days of the early pap which precede the egg white are mainly for female sex selection. It is assumed that during this period, the egg has not been released and X chromosome (girl sex chromosome) which moves slowly and lasts longer than the Y chromosome is already there waiting for the egg to be released. The 3 zero days after the peak of ovulation is highly effective for male sex selection. As the fast moving Y- chromosome reaches the fallopian tube before the X- chromosome, it fertilizes the already released eggs. Scanning can now show the sex of the embryo right from its early stages of development.

It will be totally improper and myopic to discuss family planning and sex-
preselection outside the context of marriage and its goals. We cannot create
a dichotomy between our Christian faith and the practical pressing issues in marriage that affect life on a daily basis. As Christians, we should approach these issues in the light of faith and the indispensable wisdom and teaching of the church. The ends of marriage are closely related to the ends of sexual love. They are not identical. Marriage and conjugal love are by their nature ordained towards the begetting and education of children. Children are really the supreme gift of marriage. The blessing of God on the first human couple, “… be fruitful and multiply…” (Gen.1:28) granted fertility to marriage for all ages. There are certain tendencies which emphasize the aspect of sexual love at the expense of its function for the propagation of mankind. Marriage is both for procreation and mutual love and assistance. To deny one of these is to disagreement with the Holy Scripture. Someone actually said that marital love attains lofty heights of reverential chastity only after it is committed in joyful service to life. Granted that children are treasure and gift to marriage, economic constraints makes it compulsory for many in developing countries like Nigeria to consider family planning (i.e. having children that one can provide and cater for) given each person’s resources, work or other factors like hereditary defects and danger of the mother’s life and health. Given these factors, it is quite imperative that responsible parenting be promoted and encouraged.

How is family planning to be achieved without going against God's fundamental.intention for marriage? Naturally family planning still remains the only method that respects life, the spouse themselves and God. It respects the bodies of the spouses, promotes tenderness between them and favours authentic freedom. In contrast, any other action whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the anticipation of its natural consequence, proposed whether as an end or as a means to render procreation impossible is intrinsically evil (cf: Paul VI, Humanae Vitae). Sex-preselection as we have already said can be done naturally. Here the issue is not having babies but which of the sexes is desired. Pre -selection must respect the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus. An embryo is not to be terminated because it is not the desired sex.
People often cry that the morality of the Church is too high, too idealistic and not practical. With regards to family planning the issues raised are that natural family planning removes spontaneity, excitement and fun from sex. But if really the conjugal act is an expression of love between spouse and not for selfish interest, then people should learn that love can also be expressed by restraint and respect. Love is not only shown in permissiveness. Spouses should study the natural family planning with openness and sincerity. Lack of sharing of ideas and feelings make it impossible for some couples to approach natural family planning. It is rather strange how people can be in love, yet be so reluctant and even shy to discuss their bodies and how they affect their lives and happiness together. Truly, Christian couples that have a good and healthy relationship and communication will not complain about the natural family planning. The use of it might even bring the couple closer in love and respect. Sex-preselection is often brought about (in our Nigerian context) by the issue of successors, family name and all that. Couples should know that children are gift of God and they should be open to receive what God gives, even though it is not out of place to desire a particular sex. Both sexes are ontologically equal and can both give parents joy. It is only our culture and other personal desires that make people want a particular sex. It. is not uncommon to find sons doing better than daughters in what is expected from the daughters and vice versa. The final word is openness to God’s gift. Any sex will eventually be the blessing you are looking for.
-Lady Adaora Osefo