Obstacles for the Implementation of Fertility and Family Planning Initiatives in Post Conflict Rwanda

Increased measures by the State government to educate people on Family Planning and to provide access to contraceptives has had promising results in many countries in reducing poverty and raising the standard of living. However, it remains unclear whether these measures can have similar results in a post-conflict setting. Rwanda is the ideal setting to study these questions. The horrible genocide that occurred in Rwanda had a dramatic effect on the population in terms of infrastructure, fertility rates, and trust in the government. As the country is the most populous in the African continent as well as the site of intense ethnic conflict, Rwanda's fertility rate could have important consequences on both the poverty rates and the conflict cycle. Therefore, successfully lowering the fertility rates through family planning strategies is not only beneficial but essential. The Rwandan government has implemented a new planning to increase family planning awareness but the policy faces many possible obstacles such as religion, the post- ethnic conflict setting, education, culture, and poor infrastructure in rural regions, may block this initiative. While the current initiative has had promising successes, there is still room for improvement in the policy and implementation.