While conversations about a male birth control pill are gaining momentum globally, health care professionals in South Africa say the country is far from ready, both medically and socially.
Rodney Mudzanani, a professional nurse at Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo, said male birth control pills are not anywhere near to being introduced in the public health-care system.
We are still far away from having male birth control pills. Developing male contraceptives is not a priority for big pharmaceutical companies, Mudzanani said.
There's nothing effective out yet. For now, men will continue using condoms, withdrawal, or go for a vasectomy but vasectomy is not even offered in our public hospitals.
Mudzanani added that nurses are not trained on male contraceptive methods beyond condoms and vasectomy, and most vasectomies are performed privately. He believes that even if a pill became available, many men would not take it seriously.