Santa Casa Foundation of Pará conducts family planning in the outpatient area
The institution strengthens Blue November with male participation in family planning
The Family Planning Program of Santa Casa, with the participation of users of both sexes, is legally supported, according to Law: 14.443/2022, through referrals from basic health units in Belém and other municipalities.
The coordinator of the Ambulatory Complex of the Santa Casa Foundation, Elineth Valente, informs that several procedures are carried out at the institution that strengthen the family planning program, with referrals via regulation. "Generally, this referral is made through the basic network, where we provide vacancies in the Regulation System every month."
"This assistance demonstrates Santa Casa's commitment to meeting the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also Brazil's goal of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services and supplies, including reproductive planning, information, and education, as well as the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs," highlights Elineth.
Joelhiton Avellar Nascimento, a 32-year-old doorman from Cachoeira do Arari (Marajó region), was referred from a Basic Health Unit (UBS) by a doctor to Santa Casa for family planning services. "I decided to undergo sterilization because my wife has already had four surgeries with long recovery times. After 15 years together and having a daughter, we decided to have this vasectomy."
"I believe that planning for a better future for the care of our daughter is important. To have something better for us. And this is very important when both sit down and talk about the situation. Economically, this is fundamental, especially because we see that nowadays in our society it is not easy to raise a child; it is not easy at all, we have to consider this aspect as well, among other things at play," emphasizes Joelhiton.
Ana Márcia, a social worker at the Santa Casa Foundation, informs that family planning is aimed at men and women who wish to have children and those who do not wish to have children. "In this sense, the responsibility in this process must be shared, and prevention is the couple's responsibility, not just the woman's, even though the pharmaceutical industry has concentrated most contraceptives in the woman's body."
"Family planning is a right guaranteed by law to men and women who wish to regulate fertility. Despite advances, public policies throughout history have assigned women the responsibility for issues related to contraception and family planning, hindering male participation. Vasectomy is one of the few procedures aimed at men besides male condoms. All other methods are directed towards the female body," reports Ana Márcia.
Vasectomy surgeries - The Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará Foundation (FSCMP) performs vasectomy surgeries on men, accompanied by the institution's outpatient clinic and participants in the Family Planning Program. The male sterilization procedure has many advantages over female tubal ligation, mainly because it is less invasive and allows for easier recovery for the patient, who can go home shortly after the surgery.
Luis Machado, a resident of Belém, accompanied by doctor Elton Meireles, reported that the importance of family planning for his life and family is fundamental. "When we talk, we always seek to have financial stability to support our family and everything else. In my case, I already have two children, and I started seeking care with family planning in mind. From now on, I am ending my childbearing. I have two children, and I am stopping here. I had my surgery, and now I am returning to the doctor just to finalize the follow-ups."
"And this follow-up is a way to prevent diseases. It is always important, especially for people who already have some predisposition to diseases like diabetes and even heart diseases. That is why medical follow-up is always important," said Luis Machado.
For Elton Meireles, a urologist at Santa Casa, family planning for men plays a fundamental role and goes far beyond the idea of helping women. "It is about building conscious fatherhood, having shared responsibility for raising children with the woman. It involves shared responsibility, reproductive health, and the conscious construction of fatherhood."
The doctor exemplifies that among the important aspects are: Responsibility and active participation; Male reproductive health; Prevention of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections); Prevention of unplanned pregnancies; Strengthening responsible fatherhood; Male contraceptive methods; Reduction of gender inequalities.
Elton Meireles emphasizes that family planning for men involves health, responsibility, prevention, and preparation to exercise conscious fatherhood. Planning strengthens relationships and contributes to a society with more structured families.
Since the beginning of the program at Santa Casa, about 10 years ago, more than 500 vasectomy surgeries have been performed. Results that, according to doctor Elton Meireles (urological surgeon), are related to a work of clarifying men about the procedure. "A great effort from psychologists and social workers to demystify the idea that the surgery would affect a man's masculinity. The patient who undergoes a vasectomy is still a man and continues to have a normal sex life."
The program team includes social assistance professionals, psychologists, nursing technicians, nurses, and doctors who provide guidance and evaluate each case of patients referred by the nearest health unit where they live. The flow of vasectomy care: Referral from the health unit or municipality. Opening of a medical record with social service reception and scheduling of a consultation. With urology, social service, and psychology.
