Advocacy for women's reproductive health has become an essential component of healthcare. An increasing number of healthcare professionals have taken on advocacy roles to promote women's health, addressing the challenges that women face. We spoke with Oluwaseyitan Oluwadunsin Adesopo, a 6th-year medical student at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife, Nigeria, about her passion and advocacy for women's reproductive health.
Through her clinical education and lived experience, Adesopo has encountered many solvable health issues that women face. She sees the critical partnership of community and policy advocacy in addressing health issues alongside medical interventions. As a United Nations millennium fellow/alumnus, Adesopo was focused on awareness of family planning among women but noticed that men were not involved in the discussion. This prompted her to conduct a study on men's knowledge of family planning, which showed men had limited knowledge of the subject. They needed education. She recruited medical students and trained them to be advocates for family planning, specifically for men. This project inspired her to continue her research in comparing knowledge and perception of family planning, which she is currently working to publish.
Over the years, I have worked so hard to make people know that being a woman interested in reproductive health, especially family planning, isn’t a sin, nor a taboo. I have been scolded many times because I talk about sexual practices. But, for some months now, I have seen good progress; this same population who once scolded me are now seeking more knowledge on family planning and how to get involved in safe sexual practice.
Advocacy has always been Adesopo's passion, and she has incorporated it into her career because of the experiences she has seen throughout the school. As a medical student, she has witnessed situations that could have been avoided if women were better educated about their health, particularly in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This motivated her to become more involved in advocacy and take action. “My rotation in Obstetrics and Gynecology was so adversely eventful. I witnessed events that would have been avoidable if women had more knowledge and support. This prompted me to work better on my advocacy role and take up actions.”
Adesopo has focused on women's health in her advocacy work because it is an area that needs attention. She recognizes that men also need help but notes that women are at higher risk of health-related problems, especially regarding reproductive health. Watching her mother undergo childbirth challenges inspired her to become more involved in women's advocacy.
As a future doctor, Adesopo believes in advocating for individual patient rights. Patients in most African hospitals have little knowledge of their rights when it comes to receiving health care which makes them vulnerable to maltreatment. Adesopo emphasizes the importance of raising awareness of patient rights, especially in women's reproductive choices and their right to participate in activities within society.
Adesopo acknowledges that there is still some stigma associated with discussing reproductive health, but she has seen progress in people's attitudes toward family planning. Through her advocacy work and short teachings on social media, more people are gaining essential knowledge about family planning methods, and some are seeking more information. “Over the years, I have worked so hard to make people know that being a woman interested in reproductive health, especially family planning, isn’t a sin, nor a taboo. I have been scolded many times because I talk about sexual practices. But, for some months now, I have seen good progress; this same population who once scolded me are now seeking more knowledge on family planning and how to get involved in safe sexual practice.”
Adesopo's advocacy work for women's reproductive health is commendable. She recognizes the importance of involving men and medical students in the discussion and emphasizes the need to educate patients on their rights. As more healthcare professionals take on advocacy roles like Adesopo, women's reproductive health issues will be better addressed, and the stigma associated with discussing reproductive health will reduce.