Yesterday was Day 3 at the Health Clinic and I had the opportunity to sit down with Mama Tiaso and another doctor-in-training to learn about family planning. Family planning in Tanzania is essentially a meeting between a couple and doctors as to determine the adequate spacing between births that occur in a family, in addition to the use of contraceptives, and other methods to enforce such plans. Tanzanians typically utilize two methods in terms of planning; natural and artificial. Natural family planning revolves upon prohibition of intercourse during the time at which a female is pregnant. This method roots itself in observing ostensible signals of ovulation such as basal body temperature. Artificial family planning refers to a variety of contraception techniques such as birth control pills and Norplant implant. Mama Tiaso particularly taught me about a more common hormonal birth control method which is referred to as IUD (Intrauterine device); a miniscule copper object implanted into a woman’s uterus during an age at which they may reproduce. IUD diverts unwanted pregnancy. Later that day I again observed the routine rounds performed by Dr. Wanjara and staff and also learned of laboratory techniques utilized to diagnose certain diseases. Blood and urine are most commonly observed and scrutinized via microscope after being placed in a centrifuge, which of course separates the blood and plasma. Their methodology, as effective as it may have been in the long run, was remarkably unsterile, as gloves were not used to handle such species as urine and blood.
