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Emily Mbewe Chronicle Reporter
Zimbabwe’S married women top the list on the use of modern contraceptives in Africa, according to data released by the United States based Population Reference Bureau.

According to the statistics covering a decade between 2004 and 2014, 70 percent of Zimbabwean women living in urban areas used modern contraceptives, with those in the rural areas recording 65 percent use over the same period.

The Population Reference Bureau said modern contraception methods include clinic and supply methods such as the pill, Intra Uterine Device (IUD), condom and sterilisation.

The lowest use of contraceptives in Africa was in South Sudan where two percent of married women in the urban areas and one percent in the rural areas use them.

In Zambia, 53 percent of urban dwellers used them while the figure in the rural areas was pegged at 39 percent.

Malawi had 50 percent in the urban areas and 41 percent use in the rural areas.

There was no available data on the use of modern contraceptives in South Africa.

Commenting on the statistics, an official at the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council who declined to be named said: “Zimbabwean women top the list because of the knowledge levels and accessibility of the family planning services. They’re available right through to the periphery and the grassroots.”

The statistics come as the nation continues to debate Registrar General Tobaiwa Mudede’s proposal for the government to ban the use of modern contraceptives arguing that they were not good for women and have impacted negatively on the country’s population growth.

The government has since dismissed him stating that his claims were based on unproven research findings.

In a joint statement, the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council and the government said like any other medicines or drugs, there could be side effects experienced that include headaches, abdominal discomfort, irregular bleeding patterns and weight changes.

Family planning methods available in Zimbabwe include Depo provera, jadelle and condoms among others.

“Medical and scientific evidence has shown that the benefits of using contraceptives outweigh the minor side effects caused by their use,” added the statement.

“The assertions that these medicines are dangerous and cause birth defects are totally false and without any scientific backing.”