A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Biola Okunlola, has called for increased adoption of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), warning that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and persistently low contraceptive uptake require innovative, evidence-based family planning strategies.

Speaking at the department’s grand round on recent advances in Long-Acting Reversible Contraception organised by his unit, Okunlola stressed the need for Nigeria to translate emerging evidence into improved reproductive healthcare services.

Okunlola, Head of the Fertility Research and Endocrine Unit in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, warned that if Nigeria’s population continues to grow without corresponding improvements in infrastructure and social services, it will place greater strain on national development.

He noted that modern contraceptive technologies now achieve effectiveness rates exceeding 99 per cent with very low complication rates, making them among the most reliable reversible contraceptive methods available. Improvements in effectiveness, safety, duration of action and user experience, he added, have made them first-line contraceptive options.

The professor lamented that despite decades of family planning programmes, contraceptive prevalence in Nigeria remains below 20 per cent, far lower than in many developed countries where contraceptive use exceeds 80 per cent.

According to him, misconceptions, cultural beliefs, inadequate awareness, shortages of trained providers and limited access continue to hinder wider acceptance of modern contraceptive methods.

He said increasing the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives would significantly reduce unintended pregnancies, improve maternal and child health outcomes and support sustainable national development.

Okunlola called on government, healthcare professionals, researchers and development partners to intensify public education, strengthen family planning services and invest in research to make contraceptive methods more accessible, affordable and acceptable to Nigerian women.

He maintained that while global innovations continue to redefine reproductive healthcare, their benefits can only be realised if women have accurate information, wider access to services and more contraceptive choices.

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Okunlola disclosed that the Fertility Research and Endocrine Unit is contributing to contraceptive research through locally developed digital health solutions.

He explained that the classification of intrauterine devices, implants and injectable contraceptives under Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives reflects advances in contraceptive technology rather than the introduction of entirely new methods.

He also stressed the need to integrate family planning with other reproductive health services, particularly HIV counselling and treatment programmes.

Dr Taiwo Tsele, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, called for wider adoption of recent global updates on LARC to improve access to effective family planning services.