The Seventh-Day Adventist Church and its Teachings on the use of Birth Control Methods: A Contradiction?

Abstract

To address the complications surrounding birth control methods, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has released a statement. In their statement, the church recommended sterilisation, barrier methods, spermicides, including IUDs, and hormonal methods as morally accepted birth control methods. Purposive sampling was used to select four gynaecologists and six midwives from the Sunyani municipal hospital, five women with lived experience, five members of the S.D.A Church and five Pastors of the S.D.A Church for a face-to-face and phone interview using open-ended questions. Also, secondary data on birth control methods and the Seventh–day Adventist church was used. The study examined the church’s statement on birth control methods vis-à-vis her teachings and doctrines, especially her procreation teachings. It was revealed that the church’s acceptance of some birth control methods contradicts her teachings on procreation and an aspect of her teachings on abortion. The findings from the study show that S.D.A Church did not consider the ramifications of using those approved methods since all the methods harm users. Therefore, the study recommends that the church look again at her teachings on birth control methods vis-à-vis her teachings on procreation and a portion of her teachings on abortion and consider the side effects of their accepted birth control methods.