POWER OF INFORMED CHOICES:
HIRUT ABERA’S STORY OF CHANGE
By Fana Abay, Marketing and Communication Director, Getahun Beyene, Quality Assurance and Training Officer, & Mesfin Tesfaye, Quality Assurance and Training Manager, PSI Ethiopia
In the rural village of Ali Woyo Kebele, Ethiopia, Hirut Abera stands as a symbol of transformation. At just 20 years old, her journey from early marriage to becoming a community advocate for family planning is a powerful reminder of how informed choices can reshape lives and entire communities.
As the eldest of five children, Hirut’s life was defined by responsibility from an early age. Like many girls in her village, she faced immense societal pressure to marry young, part of a longstanding tradition of early marriage that affects many rural Ethiopian communities. According to UNICEF, 40% of girls in Ethiopia are married before their 18th birthday, a practice that often limits their access to education and economic opportunities. Hirut’s own future seemed uncertain when she married a local farmer, Gosaye Kefalew, at just 16 years old. By 17, she became a mother, and like many women in her community, the idea of family planning was foreign to her.
Her life took a pivotal turn when she met Fantu Tadesse, a local Health Extension Worker, who introduced her to the concept of family planning. Fantu explained how spacing children could improve maternal and child health while empowering women to plan for their future. Initially hesitant, Hirut knew family planning was not widely discussed in her village. Cultural norms and a lack of education meant that married adolescent girls rarely considered contraceptives. But Fantu’s patient guidance helped Hirut understand that family planning wasn’t about rejecting tradition — it was about creating opportunities for a healthier and more stable future.
A Life-Changing Decision
After learning more, Hirut decided to use Implanon, a long-acting contraceptive, marking a significant turning point in her life. With the ability to plan when to have her next child, she no longer felt weighed down by uncertainty. This decision gave Hirut and her husband, Gosaye, the chance to improve their financial situation. They saved money, built a home, and ensured their first child’s needs were met without the constant strain of providing for a growing family.
This newfound stability allowed Hirut to focus on long-term goals, like sending her child to school. She began to dream again — something that had once seemed impossible. Family planning didn’t just give her control over her body; it gave her the freedom to plan her future and imagine possibilities beyond daily survival.
What makes Hirut’s story particularly powerful is how her decision to embrace family planning has had a ripple effect in her community. Traditionally, discussions around reproductive health were often silenced in conservative rural areas like Ali Woyo Kebele. But Hirut’s visible success began changing perceptions. As other young women saw her family prospering, they approached her with questions. Hirut, once a learner, became a community leader.
She encouraged these women to visit the health clinic and explore family planning options. Her story became living proof that by spacing children and focusing on family wellbeing, they too could lead healthier, more secure lives.
Hirut’s advocacy grew beyond women. She began speaking to their husbands, breaking the stereotype that family planning is solely a “woman’s issue.” By involving men in the conversation, Hirut helped pave the way for broader acceptance of contraceptive use in her community.
The Impact of Family Planning on Communities
Hirut’s transformation speaks to a larger truth about family planning in Ethiopia. Studies have shown that empowering women with reproductive health options can dramatically improve community wellbeing. In areas where family planning is accessible, maternal mortality decreases, child health improves, and women are more likely to pursue education or income-generating activities. However, cultural barriers and limited awareness remain significant obstacles. In rural Ethiopia, only about 25% of married women use modern contraceptives, according to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, a statistic that underscores the ongoing need for education and advocacy in regions like Ali Woyo Kebele.
CREATING CHANGE: HIRUT’S MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE
Today, Hirut Abera is a role model in her village. Her decision to embrace family planning not only transformed her family’s life but also inspired other women to rethink their options. Her message is simple yet powerful: “Family planning gives you the power to plan your future and provide a better life for your children.”
Hirut’s journey highlights the transformative power of informed choices. Working alongside Health Extension Workers like Fantu, women across Ethiopia can gain the tools they need to take control of their reproductive health, leading to healthier families and stronger communities.
Her story calls for greater access to reproductive health services in rural Ethiopia, where tradition and limited awareness continue to hold many women back.
By supporting women like Hirut, we can overcome barriers, open new doors, and build healthier, more resilient communities — one informed choice at a time.
