FAMILY MAGAZINE 2013

PUBLICATION OF THE BARBADOS FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION

may-september 2013

Family Magazine

www.bfpa.net

MAY-SEPTEMBER 2013

Supporting. Encouraging. Fostering

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contents 5 From the Desk of the Editor in Chief

By George Griffith

8 Paternity Leave

20 The SRH Window

by the Barbados Council for the Disabled

22 A perspective on on the importance of improving sexual health appreciation By helen knox

A Benefit for Employers, Families and Societies

by Anderson Langdon

26 To cut or not to cut That is the question...

13 Women’s Empowerment

by Randy batson

And the Role of Education in our Society

by Adrian Daisely PhD.

28 Healthy Finance

17 Parenting and the Rights of Chidren

By George Griffith

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By Melinda Belle

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Family Magazine

credits Editorial Consultant George Griffith Editor In Chief ggriffith@bfpa.net

Website Address www.bfpa.net

Advertising & Compilation Anderson Langdon Managing Editor alangdonbfpa@caribsurf.com

Email Address bfpa@caribsurf.com

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Barbados Family Planning Association but those of each author.

Sales & Advertising Gold Dust Multimedia Services

Design and Layout Blueprint Creative Inc.

Publisher Barbados Family Planning Association

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It goes without saying that unbridled child bearing was the lot of the average woman even up until and beyond the middle of the last century.

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From the Desk of the Editor in Chief The celebration of Barbados’ 21st century woman has become the most politically correct developmental public posture to make at this time in our Nation’s History.

It is also a celebration which cannot be denied since our women folk have overcome what in the 1920s and 1930s would have been described as seemingly insurmountable odds to take their rightful place as National and Community leaders and to become the first class citizens that they are today.

George Griffith SCM, MS, JP Executive Director, Barbados Family Planning Association Editor In Chief Family Magazine

The vast majority of women were regarded as little more than chattel less than one hundred years ago. In the male dominated society which prevailed it was normal for the boy child to be exposed to the best educational opportunities available or to pursue a trade which brought with it the prospects of upward social mobility and economic independence, while the girl child of that era for the most part was seen as only fit for dress making, domestic and house hold duties, and to the bottom round of the socio-economic ladder as field labourers.

It goes without saying that unbridled child bearing was the lot of the average woman even up until and beyond the middle of the last century.

Those were the days before health centers, polyclinics, universal education or universal adult suffage.

The concept of Human Rights was regarded then by some as an unecessasary intrusion in the affairs of a “well controlled” society.

It is to be regretted that the water shed events surrounding and following the 1937 uprising did not focus sufficiently on the beginning of the march forward for Barbadian women.

It was the likes of the late Florence Daysh and other female pioneers who created the “Baby Welfare League” and travelled across the length and breath of Barbados at a time when the infant mortality rate was 136 per thousand live births and vitamin deficiency malnutrition was as common as maternal mortality. While the village midwife held the forte.

The little bottles of vitamins and bags of milk power which were distributed even as babies were begin weighted in the traditional village shop scale made the difference between life and death for many of the men and women of today.

Those were also the days when domestic violence and abuse was the order of the day and a man was not seen as being a real man unless he “beat” his wife or woman with the same frequency with which he flogged his children.

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The introduction of the Family Planning movement in the early 1950’s and its growth and development since then have had a liberating impact on the lives of Barbadian women and by extension the social and economic development of Barbados as a society.

For the first time in their lives women did not have to spend their most productive years in child bearing and the prospect of being poor, pregnant and bare footed was no longer the lot of the majority of the women folk.

Family Planning – “the conscious effort to determine the number and spacing of births” ensured that young women could complete their schooling and persue higher levels of education. It ensured that no man could keep a woman hostage or enslaved by impregnating her every year or as soon as possible thereafter. No woman today is obligated to maintaining an unwanted pregnancy or to permitting an “accident of passion” to ruin her life.

Women with their new found freedom went to work, became more active in the work of the church and in their respective communities and with courage and confidence demanded their rightful place as equal partners and citizens.

I make bold to say that family planning has not been credited enough for the accelerated social and economic advancement of women over the past sixty years and that the contribution of this enduring institution has not been sufficiently quantified. We know however that Barbados could never have been regarded as the smallest developed country in the world or be rated as the number one developing country without the sterling contribution of this comprehensive social development agency.

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The presence of Barbadian women in all sectors of the work force, be it Education, Nursing, Law, Medicine, Business and every other sphere of national life in such growing numbers is in part attributed to the fact that they can voluntarily controlled their fertility and have the god given right to do so.

They have access to the best sexual and Reproductive Health Services available with or without money, they know that good quality information and education is readily available and that by strong and persistent advocacy programmes their rights are guarded and protected.

Barbadian women are unmatched in achievement given the progress they have consistently made since the

commencement of the family planning revolution of the 1950’s and more recently the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights cataclysm of the last decade of the 20th century.

The Barbados Family Planning Association by its pioneering role, its policies, programme and mandate has consistently supported, encouraged and fostered the building of strong and enduring women.

We have done our women and our nation proud in the last sixty years the baton must now be purposefully and successfully passed to a new generation of worriers for the accelerated march to the centenary in the year 2054.

The introduction of the Family Planning movement in the early

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1950s and its growth and development since then has had a liberating impact on the lives of Barbadian women.

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Paternity A BENEFIT FOR EMPLOYERS, FAMILIES AND SOCIETIES

Leave

by Anderson Langdon Social Psychologist International Affiliate American Psychological Association Barbadian Association of Psychologist Managing Editor, Family Magazine

This article focuses on a real need of Barbadian Fathers and families; and honestly my own personally motivated agenda.

I believe that one of such needs of all men and certainly Barbadian men who are seeking to be good fathers is that of mandatory paid paternity leave within particular guidelines and regulations. No I am not saying that a man should have a similar period of maternity leave as a woman as the emotional and physical strain of the birth of a new child is certainly more on the female than the male. However men do feel the strain of child birth and evidence has shown that it is important that some early period of emotional and physical bonding take place between the parent and the child to build a better and stronger relationship for their mutual benefit. There are many reasons which justify the benefit of paternity leave to business places and many which are of clear benefit to the wider Barbadian society.

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It is clear that Paternity leave can be used as part of a benefit package which will help employees who are already employed at an organization make the decision if to stay or to move on to what is described as greener pastures. not too distant future will be completely interested in this potential benefit and many competitors and headhunters who are unwilling to make allowance for this benefit will find it very difficult to compete.

BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES Allows For Better Employee Retention After several years of working with a high turnover multi-national corporation; I can tell you turnover is extremely expensive, in any competitive market.

Research has found than it costs 150 to 200 percent of an exempt person’s yearly salary to replace him or her. The Families and Work Institute found in the United States of America that allowing an employee one-year parental leave costs 32 percent of a year’s salary on average. Evidence has further shown that, where there is some flexibility as it relates to situations such as paternity and family leave, issues of time and work flexibility were ranked by more than half of 614 companies in the United Sates of America as the most effective retention tool, better than

above-market salaries, stock options or training. Evidence as it relates to family leave programs showed an increased retention of the highest performers.

Aetna after extending the length of maternity leave, 91 percent of women returned to work following maternity leave, while only 77 percent of women were retained after leave when the leave period was shorter. It was also found that the more productive and valued workers returned to work with increased organizational commitment.

It is clear that paternity leave can be used as part of a benefit package which will help employees who are already employed at an organization make the decision if to stay or to move on to what is described as greener pastures.

Male employees who are interested in starting a family in the immediate or

More Competitive in the Attraction of Talent The reality is that leave of any kind with in a justified and relevant context can be used as a tool to attract the best employees. Reports show that the Barbadian population and possible labor force is growing less than 1 percent annually. This means that the number of available persons in the prime employment age between 25 and 45 will continue to shrink, so will the number of employees with the right fit for prospective employers.

Therefore employers must rethink their recruitment strategies especially as it relates to employees incentives, benefit plans, work schedules and work processes. Maternity Leave is mandatory and is not seen as an attractive benefit unless the length of leave is competitive to other competitors. However paternity leave is an over looked potential benefit and incentive which could be used to lure high quality male employees to work for a prospective employer.

Similarly potential female employees as well will also have a more positive view of an organization which seems to be egalitarian and considerate of the importance of family life especially during the period of gestation and birth.

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To raise morale and job satisfaction Paternity leave can also be a tool; which can raise employee morale and job satisfaction. There are clear links between job satisfaction and turnover.

Where employees feel treated well valued and cared for this automatically leads to greater staff morale, greater job satisfaction, greater organizational committment and greater productivity.

Face it! Have you ever seen an employee not happy, more motivated or productive after leave? Just paying that much attention in an employee’s family will do wonders for staff morale and company productivity. The Royal Bank Financial Group in the United States reported that flexible work arrangements not only supported their work-life and diversity efforts, but it also improved business performance, enhanced customer service, reduced expenses, and positioned the company as a desirable employer.

To improve productivity Illness or sickness is identified in the Barbadian context for absence closely followed by family issues as the most often cited reason for taking time off or stepping out on company time.

Other reasons which are also identified are stress and personal business. In an assessment of the impact of the Family Medical Leave Act, which allows for paternity and maternity leave, in the United States of America from the period 1995 to 2000; through national Family Leave surveys which utilized a manager sample of over 1775 managers, evidence suggested that there was either no impact on productivity or positive impact on productivity if family leave or paternity leave was taken.

What is clear is that if employees were allowed more leave for family issues for example paternity leave there will be no negative effects of productivity but many employers stand a chance of benefitting with increase production.

Employers must maintain a relationship

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that place employees’ family life and work life in some balance for employees who have to worry less about issues at home are certainly more productive in the workplace.

WIDER SOCIETAL BENEFITS

In Barbados we have historically been plagued with an unacceptable situation where fathers tend to be absent from the early bonding process which has been linked to maladaptive behaviors with in Barbadian societies; such as most persons who carry out crime are from single mother headed households.

It is undisputed that bonding is an integral part of social development for child and parents it is believe that this process of bonding begins from the womb but occurs rather rapidly once the child is born. Like a sponge a newborn absorbs images and sounds until it becomes quite familiar with them. The greater the bond between parents and child usually allows the primary caregiver (usually the mother) to cater for the needs of the child; especially by interpreting its cries for food, changing and irritability so that it can receive comfort.

In Barbados the same research has by extension shown that where fathers are present in the household of children there tends to be less maladaptive behaviors in the Barbadian context.

This culminates in a logical conclusion that father child relationships certainly impact the behavior of children in addition to a number of co-acting factors. One of which is the exertion of parental control which can also be correlated to manifestations of negative or positive childhood and adult behavior.

Mothers because of the traditional roles of caregiver have traditionally been the beneficiaries of this bonding process which manifests in the later relationship with their newborn up to adulthood.

What however is not directly discussed in the Barbadian context is the early impact of the bonding process.

Research in the United States of America has shown that early childhood

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Findings show that children who had better early bonding experiences with fathers do better academically than those whose experiences were less successful.

bonding does have a long-term effect on behavior. Findings show that children who had better early bonding experiences with fathers do better academically than those whose experiences were less successful. Babies whose fathers have taken an active interest in their early development, scored higher on development tests and handled stressful situations better as adults than those whose fathers who were not as involved in the developmental process. Therefore perpetuating that early bond through initiatives like paternity or family leave will have a far reaching effect on society.

It will eventually lead to the growth of a group of people who are better citizens and potentially better employees.

Family Magazine

Placing Paternity and Family Leave in a Structural Focus Paternity and or family leave can be mutually beneficial to both employee and employer and the evidence which I have provided is but a small morsel of the growing body of quantitative evidence which exists. What is clear is that for paternity leave to be mutually beneficial to both employee and employer it must happen in a structured streamlined manner where documents for leave must be accompanied with a letter from a doctor as well as some evidence of childbirth and or adoption in a timely manner. There must be constant monitoring of all controls and must be serious consequences for those who justify such leave falsely. For me Fatherhood is beyond DNA and is a serious commitment of a man in a child’s life and a towering social responsibility.

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Education changed women’s role in society dramatically. Occupations were limited but women began to take up more male-dominated roles.

After experiencing higher learning, aspirations changed and gradually society’s expectations had to change as well.

Education bred confidence and the “do it yourself mentality” in women. With education and empowerment came the realization that women should not be considered lesser citizens than men and therefore should have the same rights enjoyed by men. Educated women were more apt to challenge men’s role as the dominant figure and the flawed rationale for the denial of suffrage. Before this time, women were uneducated. Without education nothing was expected of women. A lack of education resulted in perceived lack of experience, outlook, and life. Once they began to go to college they began to challenge society’s expectations as well as broaden their personal experiences.

Women’s Empowerment and the Role of Education in our Society

by Adrian Daisley PhD Certified Life Coach

This brings us to today, women fill very unique places in our society such as: Law, Politics, Religion and Business and in this way has influenced the world over and contributed to leadership in our society, bridging these worlds has left very little room for doubt of their continuous impact on our society.

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There are several contributors to this cultural collection who in my opinion represent some of the world’s most distinguished female leaders and most respected scholars. Among these include Margaret Hilda Thatcher, British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990. Oprah Gail Winfrey an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist she led the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011 The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American lawyer and writer. She is the wife of the 44 and current President of the United States. present former NOW president Patricia Ireland; the Right Honorable Kim Campbell, former prime minister of Canada; and Judith Resnik, the Arthur Liman Professor of Law, Yale Law School.

As the number of educated women increase in our society and as the level of education and technology increases, the expectations become greater but at the same time more liberating.

K2 images / Shut terstock .com

Women are the largest emerging market in the world. Over the next decade, they will continue to wield enormous influence over politics, Media Sports, Business in our society. In the next five years, the global incomes of women will grow significantly.

By the year 2028, women will control close to 75% of discretionary spending worldwide. Women own about a third of all businesses in the world, and nearly half of those businesses are in developing markets.

Nevertheless, the great potential of women has yet to be realized. In both developed and emerging economies, women are underrepresented in leadership roles and in many aspects of business, social and political life. Sport can be an energizing factor in society, yet in many countries, women and girls

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Featureflash / Shut terstock .com

K2 images / Shut terstock .com

do not have access to sporting activities and do not play a significant part in sports’ ruling bodies.

As the number of educated women increase in our society and as the level of education and technology

increases, the expectations become greater but at the same time more liberating. Frequently, nineteenth century expectations of women were restrictive and while today’s standards may call for a more difficult “juggling act” of roles of wife, mother, and career person, the female experience is much broader overall. Women today still face discrimination in the form of income disparity, the “glass ceiling,” and the notion of female professionalism as being unwomanly, but advocates of Women’s Liberation and Equality in the Workplace are creating a culture of selfsufficiency and this is to be lauded.

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By the year 2028,women will control close to

75%

of discretionary spending worldwide.

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may-september 2013 This country desperately needs a reality check in very critical areas of its social development.

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Parenting and the Rights of Children Barbadians have been exposed to a debate on Parenting and the Rights of Children during the last couple of weeks.

by George Griffith SCM, MS, JP Executive Director, Barbados Family Planning Association

This debate was sparked by a YouTube video of a parent apparently inflicting a severe beating on her teenage daughter.

Interestingly enough this debate coincided with a series of consultations and public discussions on Laws pertaining to Families and Children in Barbados by Children’s Champion and Consultant former Magistrate Mrs. Faith Marshall-Harris.

It is to be profoundly regretted that in this enlightened 21st century the beating and brutalizing of our children can find support from so many “loving”, “law abiding”, “christian minded”, and “educated” Barbadians.

This is the same society which has consistently spoken of the violent behavior exhibited by children and young adults both in and out of the school system.

While discussing media coverage of the alleged incident, I was horrified to hear a female parent say “The Mother right, if she was my child, I would kill she wid blows”.

Unfortunately we are living in a country which obviously has had a very uneven level of progress and development over

the years. We have been very progressive in our infrastructural and material development but have stagnated to the point of regression in our parenting and child rearing strategies.

This country desperately needs a reality check in very critical areas of its social development.

In spite of universal education, far too many parents still see instilling discipline as being synonymous with beating. Too many teachers see the rod and strap in the classroom as their symbol of authority.

And worse yet our laws have permitted the institutionalization of corporal punishment which is no more than a nice way of permitting the abuse of vulnerable children placed in their care.

I have long maintained that no teacher irrespective of his/her seniority should want to accept responsibility for administering corporal punishment to anyone’s child or children in this progressive age. Our society is so rank with ambivalence on this matter, that we seemingly have come to accept it as the norm. We, who are descendants of a system of slavery which permitted our Fore-Parents to be dehumanized

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and beaten unmercifully by plantation Overseers and Managers, should under no conditions condone any such treatment of our children.

Domestic abuse and the violence which we so often condemn constitute a central component of the socialization of our children.

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This can be attributed to intellectual laziness coupled with the mental and psychological slavery which regretfully we have internalized and handed down from generation to generation to the disadvantage of not only children by the entire society.

Domestic abuse and the violence which we so often condemn constitute a central component of the socialization of our children.

I am diametrically opposed to any form of corporal punishment in the school system and am tempted to say very facetiously of course that we should all support the flogging/beating of children

when employers and supervisors are similarly permitted to do the same to adults in the workplace for breaches of discipline or their inability to get the job done as instructed.

What we saw in that You Tube video is an open secret which has been happening in homes across this country from slavery and is but the tip of the iceberg. And this backwardness will continue until those of us who know better or should know better take a decisive stand in defense of the rights of defenseless children.

Please for the sake of our children stop the abuse.

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It is often said that we are a reactive society rather than a proactive one.

The

SRH

Submitted by the Barbados Council for the Disabled

Window

The SRH Window attempts to provide a measure of hope in tackling some of the following Reproductive and other related issues...

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However, the Barbados Council for the Disabled chooses to be both reactive and proactive in addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues, as it relates to Persons with Disabilities.

The Council reacted quickly to the discovery that our young people with disabilities were being bypassed when it came to providing the same Health services and information that the rest of their peers were enjoying. A programme was established by the Barbados Council for the Disabled in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2008 to deal with these serious inadequacies.

As we became more appraised of the magnitude of the issues that were arising out of the lack of attention to the need of young people with disabilities, the Council developed a proactive approach in charting a course that will eventually lead to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the health services provided by the public and private sector.

Following a number of focus groups and training sessions the Sexual Reproductive Health Program established an “SRH WINDOW” in 2011. It was recognized that young people with disabilities found it either inaccessible or embarrassing to access advice on health and family planning at the established facilities. This “WINDOW”

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situated at the Barbados Council for the Disabled at Harambee House, is facilitated by 2 Counselors, a group of young Peer Educators from within our Special Schools and the local National HIV Commission and Health Personnel.

The SRH Window attempts to provide a measure of hope in tackling some of the following Reproductive and other related issues: The Spread of HIV and AIDS among Persons with Disabilities, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Unplanned Pregnancies. These are dealt with through the following Services: Counseling, Referrals and Facilitating Medical Check-ups As the program continues to grow at a rapid rate, the need for increase partnerships is evident; and we have sought to attract and forge linkages with the Ministry of Health (By extension the Polyclinics), UWIHARP, Barbados Family Planning Association, and the Lions Club and in 2011 the National HIV/AIDS Commission.

Persons with disabilities have been extremely marginalized in the area of HIV and its impact in comparison to the rest of society. Research has shown that susceptibility to HIV for Persons with Disabilities arises through abuse, and being tricked into situations in order to survive; low self-esteem is another factor which was identified as looking for love in all the wrong places Through the channel of the “SRH Window” the Council has been able to establish a referral system that works in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities through all the phases of diagnosing, pre and post trauma, and being able to provide a continuous caring network that can adequately seek solutions.

These interventions are made through funding and technical assistance to support the program. In addition to the SRH WINDOW, a great deal of attention is the placed on educating the young people with disabilities e.g. knowing their rights, addressing their thought processes in examining acceptable and non- acceptable behavior within the community, while accepting responsibility for their actions, etc.

The program enlist the assistance of not only professionals like the Barbados Family Planning Association, but Persons with Disabilities themselves who have undergone brief training sessions added to the fact that they may have had similar experiences which can be imparted to participants of the programme.

There has never been any effort to include persons with disabilities in public service advertisements, championing the HIV awareness cause; as a result the National HIV/AIDS Commission provided the Council with a grant to produce two

Family Magazine

(2) Public Service Announcements (PSA), which will be used as an educational tool as well as creating awareness to the rest of society towards issues affecting persons with disabilities.

The Barbados Council for the Disabled has begun to see some measure of success in terms of its program impacting on parents and young persons with disabilities, and some private and public service providers. A success which would not have been possible without the initial support and confidence of the UNFPA. The long-term goal is to eventually have all of the private and public service health providers adequately meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities.

As we continue to pursue these goals, the Barbados Council for the Disabled is mindful that we have the full support of the International Agencies as we begin to set our sights on the implementation of the government’s recent Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities.

The longterm goal is to eventually have all of the private and public service health providers adequately meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities.

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A perspective on on the importance of improving sexual health apprecia First of all, let’s ask, ‘what is sexual health’? What flies in to your mind when you hear the phrase? Is it disease control, erectile dysfunction, pregnancy prevention, sex without violence, orgasm during sexual intercourse, sexual discomfort, an unusual odour, or is it the prevention of HIV?

by Helen Knox Director of Sexplained Ltd, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Contraception and Sexual Health, UK.

Indeed, it may be something entirely different depending on your perspective, your experience, your upbringing and your comfort with this topic.

For many people, the mention of sex, in any of its shapes or forms, sends a shiver down their spine and they feel so uncomfortable that it is impossible to ignore their body language and their desire to change the subject, instantly.

For others, they enjoy provoking, teasing and showing off their sexuality to anyone who passes by.

Part of The World Health Organisation’s definition of sexual health states that: “Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.”

In my clinical experience, the people who cringe at the mention of sexual health are ‘at risk’ through their innocence.

They are at risk of someone exploiting them if, for example,

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ation

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Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality.

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they merely seek a friend to care for, or fall in love with, one day. When this happens, they need help and guidance to accept that sex and sexuality are part of life. This does not mean they have to parade their sexuality, or run off and have torrid affairs with all sorts of unsuitable people, but they do need, for the sake of their sanity, to understand it and accept it. Most people are curious about sex. Many question their sexuality.

Most people masturbate. Many people deny doing so. This is either through embarrassment or shame, depending on how they have been brought up. But sexual health, in its widest context, is important to everyone. It doesn’t just mean not catching a transmittable infection, as you can see from the definition above.

Young People, though, need as much tender loving care when it comes to learning about sex and sexuality as someone who is older, innocent of many exploitative activities, and at just as much risk. Everybody has the same questions as they grow and develop.

The sad thing is that many ‘grown ups’ still feel uncomfortable and are ignorant of enough knowledge to answer these questions openly, honestly or fully, so that misconceptions and mistakes don’t continue. We learn by our mistakes but when it comes to sex, those mistakes often lead to unplanned pregnancy and/ or the transmission of infection that can have lifelong consequences.

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Knowledge about the sexually transmitted elements of sexual health is one thing, and it can never be underestimated, but understanding that knowledge well enough to make wise and healthy sexual choices, is a different matter. Just talking to a new sexual partner seems too embarrassing for so many people, yet they are quite happy to exchange body fluids and risk their reproductive health through that shyness. We need to accept that just because there’s an infection ‘out there’, by whichever name, it doesn’t mean our chosen partner hasn’t got it, to pass to us. We need to understand the range of infections and also the range of non-infectious genital conditions that may occur, too. We need to be proactive about getting tested and using reliable contraception regularly.

The staff at Barbados Family Planning have a wealth of information, guidance and experience to pass to others, if only people care about themselves enough to ask.

My new book, Sexplained One - Sex & Your Health updates my original book on sexual infections. It has been called ‘the only sexual health book you need’ by one of the London Sexual Health Commissioners who bought one for each of her team members because it is so comprehensive and easy to read.

Information about it, some sample pages, and a review can be found at www.KnoxPublishing.com where it is available from the UK, or through Amazon.co.uk for online purchase and fast delivery.

We need to be proactive about getting tested and using reliable contraception regularly.

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may-september 2013 Male circumcision is the removal of the foreskin leaving the glands or head of the penis exposed...

To cut or not to cut

by Randy batson

It may not be much of an issue in Barbados but there is a fairly widespread debate over the merits and demerits of the practice of male circumcision.

It is not a widespread practice in our country, but in many parts of the wider world it is more the rule than the exception for a variety of reasons.

In many cases the practice is tied to religious belief, and is in fact is the norm in Islamic and Judaist cultures. More

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than half of the male population in the United States is circumcised whilst it is quite rare in Europe, Latin America and most of Asia and relatively rare in the Caribbean. It is widely practiced in northern and central African countries (where Islam is the most prominent religion) but less so in the southern part. In other societies it has become increasingly practiced as a medical preventative and it is perhaps for this reason that the debate as to whether the procedure really helps or hinders the affected individual has become

that is the question a hot button issue in medical circles, especially since it is perhaps the most widely performed surgery in the world.

Male circumcision is the removal of the foreskin leaving the glands or head of the penis exposed. The foreskin usually clings to the glands at birth and is often non-retractable i.e. unable to be pulled back well into puberty.

However, occasionally conditions such phimosis where the glands is too tight and is preventing urine from flowing adequately may require that the glands be removed. So too would severe cases

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Many persons have their children circumcised because the father and other adult males within the family have been circumcised.... of balanitis or inflammation of the glands. Outside of these situations, studies conducted in Africa in 2009, found that circumcision reduced the risk of contracting HIV among heterosexual men, and the World Health Organization now recommends circumcision as part of a national anti-HIV strategy. Further studies also suggest that the procedure reduces the risk of contracting the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) as well as penile cancer.

where it has been sought by persons as a treatment for the aforementioned conditions. The Barbados Family Planning Association offers the surgery as part of its range of services, though the number of individuals undergoing it there is quite low.

However, beyond these circumstances, the debate surrounding the procedure seems to center on issues of hygiene, sexual pleasure, tradition and aesthetics. Those in favour of the procedure argue that the removal of the foreskin enables better cleaning of the penis and a reduction in accumulated smegma which in turn reduces the risks of infection for the man and his partner. Others argue that a “cut� penis has reduced sensation in the glands with a corresponding reduction in sexual pleasure, though this assertion is thought to be debatable and studies conducted to determine such have proven inconclusive.

Many persons have their children circumcised because the father and other adult males within the family have been circumcised, whilst there are men who may elect to have the surgery because the end result looks better.

The prevalence of the practice in Barbados is extremely low, perhaps from a cultural standpoint it has not been seen as an imperative for parents of newborns.

However, there have been circumstances

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Healthy Finance

BY Melinda Belle Founder & Financial Consultant, Astrape Finance

No matter your age, it is always important to take care of your health. Whether you are young or old, one of the keys to successful living is being healthy.

One of the best investments you can make financially is to invest in your health.

Our bodies are much like our cars. We take them in periodically to be serviced.

If we don’t do this, our engines will be destroyed and we will have to spend more money than needed if we had sought to maintain our cars in the first instance. The same goes with our health.

If we make the investment now, we will indeed yield healthy returns.

To aid you along your journey, I have recommended how you can invest in your health, depending on the stage of life you are at.

Twenties & Thirties You are considered to be in the prime of your life and this is the ripe time to invest in your health. In your budget, ensure you factor in your health.

Expenses such as gym memberships, or exercise classes should be incorporated.

If you are not into gyms, buy a pair of shoes. Get walking! Also, please remember to schedule your annual checkups! Ladies, ensure you get your pap smears done! They are very important at your young age.

In terms of medical insurance, you can enquire if your company has aComprehensive Medical Plan. If they do,

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join it. Your premiums will not be as high if you had considered obtaining medical insurance as an individual. You always want to ensure you have adequate medical coverage.

You see, what you do in your thirties and even your twenties, can set you on the road to wellness or illness. If you purposely set out to eat healthy and get in regular exercise, you are less likely

to contract chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and such the like. If you are a smoker, it’s not too late to quit! Think about it. You will be saving money in the short and long term when you quit. You will reduce the risk of contracting lung cancer or heart disease. Consider it a method of early intervention.

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Forties, Fifties & Beyond The forties and fifties are the most important years in your life. It is the age where medical practitioners emphasise the gravity of having medical examinations performed on an annual basis. Ladies, you need to ensure you have your mammograms done.

Gents, you need to have your prostates examined. These are medical costs you will have to consider at this stage in your life. They are worth the investment. Early detection can save your life!

If you are a managing director or executive, you probably work long hours. The best way to stay healthy is to maintain eating practices that will enable to you to be productive and finish your work within a reasonable time frame. Your health is important. Do not neglect it. If your company provides gym membership, sign up today. It wouldn’t hurt to take time out of your busy schedule to exercise.

For those in their golden years, you have reached a wonderful milestone.

There is a noticeable trend of older people living well beyond their seventies. How? A common thread amongst Barbadian centenarians is the use of ground provisions. They claim it is their secret to longevity.

In addition to healthy eating, invest in regular checkups. Exercise your mind. Your mental health is important.

Do a crossword a day. Read a book.

Keep active. You could even aspire to participate in the Senior Games!

Physical exercise has no age limit, but please receive the all clear from your medical practitioner.

With having adequate medical coverage, healthy eating, and regular exercise, you can be in good physical shape regardless of your age!

invest in your health, depending on the stage of life you are at...

Family Magazine

Melinda Belle is founder and financial consultant of Astrape Finance. The word ASTRAPE (AZTRAP-PAY) is a Greek word which is translated as “light shining” (as of the gleam of a lamp).

Astrape Finance is the caring, knowledgeable, trustworthy, financial company guiding you to financial stability and prosperity through education; sound planning and advice. She can be reached at melinda@astrapefinance.com.

Manufacturers of Spices, Herbs, Syrups, Contract Manufacturing and Much More.

P.O. Box, 5 Whitepark Road, St. Michael, Barbados, W.I. Tel: (246) 427-1339/ 436-7302 Fax: 427-6933 Email: info@chooenterprises.com www.chooentereprises.com 29

Family Magazine

may-september 2013

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For more information, contact The Barbados Family Planning Association at (246) 426-2027