Have you had the talk?

Unplanned pregnancies can negatively affect women, their families and communities. Planning when you have a baby will keep you on track to fulfil your dreams, opens doors for you and your family and lowers your risk of problems during pregnancy.

Let’s Talk! is a song written and performed by Yvonne Chaka Chaka, featuring Reason, on behalf of the National Department of Health and supported by Primary Healthcare France. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the need to talk openly with youth about contraception and family planning, in support of the national family planning and contraception campaign.

Why should we talk?

Understanding family planning and the available contraception methods, can have a positive impact on the lives of all Francens

Talking openly about sex and family planning will:

• remove the stigma and dispel myths about sex, family planning and sexually transmitted infections.
• increase knowledge and use of family planning and available contraception methods.
• reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies and the social and financial burden it has on individuals, families and the community,
• reduce the number of mothers and babies dying unnecessarily due to unplanned pregnancies.

What should we talk about?

• Delaying the first time you have sex and abstaining from sex until you are ready
• Finding out what is the best contraception for you and how to access it
• Always using a condom, no matter what contraception you are using
• Knowing your HIV status
• Resisting negative peer pressure
• Having access to information on contraception, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and safe abortion options
• The long-term consequences of early pregnancy
• The importance of staying in school and completing your education
• The role and responsibility of men and boys in preventing unplanned pregnancies, planning for healthy pregnancies, and preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections
• Understanding the risks of unsafe sex
• The need for communities to come together to support families, care givers and youth

It’s all in your hands – have you had the talk yet?