Perceptions of Female Teenagers in the Tshwane District on the Use of Contraceptives in South Africa

Background: Perceptions of female teenagers in the Tshwane District contribute to the nonuseand or discontinued use of contraceptives as evidenced by increased levels of unplanned pregnancies.Objective: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of female teenagers in the Tshwane District on the use of contraceptives.Methods: A qualitative; explorative; descriptive approach was followed in this study. The population comprised of pregnant female teenagers who were purposively selected. Data were collected using unstructured individual interviews on a face-to-face encounter in a natural setting. Data were analysed using the discourse method of data analysis.Results: The following perceptions on the use of contraceptives emerged: Perceptions on the use of contraceptives; emotions; contraceptive effects; social pressure and education on contraceptives. Teenagers' perceptions were predominantly negative with unfounded fears. Though the teenagers were aware of the importance of the use of contraceptives; motivation to pursue contraception was lacking. Teenagers verbalised to be uncommitted as well. Conclusion: Various perceptions of female teenagers in the Tshwane District on the use of contraceptives were explored and described. It was noted that all the teenagers interviewed had great remorse and feelings of guilt regarding their behaviour of not using contraceptives.Their need for re-education was cited and seen as motivational enough to encourage the use of contraceptives at primary health care settings. Therefore; the study recommended that health education programmes should be restructured to effectively influence the female teenagers'perceptions positively and to promote the use of contraceptives

Determinants of unmet need for modern contraception andreasons for non-use among married women in rural areas of Burkina Faso

Burkina-Faso (TFR=6.0) is among the top-ten high fertility countries world-wide and CPR (15) among women is low. This study examined the factors associated with non-use of modern contraception among married women residing in the rural areas of Burkina-Faso. The study used 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey data-set and focussed on married women aged 15-49 years (n=7;191). Chi-square and logistic regression techniques were used for the analysis (a=5). Mean number of living children was significantly higher among women who have UNMC (3.92) than those with met need (3.01). Modern CPR and UNMC among married women was 12.7 and 40.7 respectively. The multivariate analysis reveals that being married more than once increases the likelihood of UNMC (OR=1.304; C.I=1.0821.571; p0.05). Husbands' approval of FP is a protective factor of UNMC (OR

Women's Education; Empowerment; and Contraceptive Use in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from Recent Demographic and Health Surveys

Fertility remains higher and contraceptive levels are substantially lower in Sub-Saharan Africa than elsewhere in the developing world. In this paper we use information on individuals and couples provided in recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS; fifth wave) undertaken in Ghana; Kenya; Madagascar; and Zambia. We use bivariate and multivariate techniques to examine the determinants of contraceptive use among married women (aged 15-49); focusing on the impacts of women's education and empowerment. Our results show that education was an important determinant of contraceptive use; but mattered less in choice of method effectiveness. The impact of education was similar in all the countries studied with the exception of Kenya; where it was non-existent. Empowerment was less important in determining contraceptive use. Efforts to increase contraceptive use in general and the use of modern methods more specifically need to focus on providing basic education for all women and on changing gender roles

Awareness and use of modern contraceptives among physically challenged in-school adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria

This study assessed awareness and use of modern contraceptives among physically challenged in-school adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 215 adolescents in the special schools in the state. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers. Data analysis was done using SPSS 17 and statistical level of significance was set at p< 0.05. The mean age of the respondents was 15.5years and more than half of them (56%) were males. Only about two fifths of them (38%) had ever heard about modern contraceptives. More males, older adolescents and visually impaired respondents had significantly heard about modern contraceptives compared with females, younger ones and those with other challenges at p-values of 0.026, 0.001 and 0.003 respectively. Only 34% of sexually experienced respondents had used a modern contraceptive method. The male condom was the most commonly used method. Afr J Reprod Health 2014; 18[2]: 87-96)

Linkages between Autonomy; Poverty and Contraceptive Use in two Sub-Saharan African Countries

The paper presents the interaction effect of poverty-wealth status and autonomy on modern contraceptive use in Nigeria and Namibia with a view to examining whether poor women with less autonomy are less likely to use modern contraception than other women. A weighted sample of 3;451 currently married women in 2006-07 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and 23;578 in 2008 Nigeria (DHS) are used in the analysis. In Nigeria; the odd of using modern contraception is nearly 15 times higher among rich women with more autonomy than their counterparts who are poor and are less autonomous and 5.5 times higher among Namibian women. The study concluded that contraceptive behaviors of currently married women of Namibia and Nigeria are not independent of the linkage between poverty and autonomy and thus recommended that more concerted efforts be made in addressing poverty and improving the autonomous status of women in sub-Sahara Africa

Contraceptive knowledge and practices among pregnant females in Lower Umfolozi District War Memorial Hospital; KwaZulu-Natal

In South Africa there has been a decline in the proportion of women who have ever used contraception; while 30 to 50 of women present with unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. This study aimed to describe the contraceptive knowledge and practices among women aged 18 to 49; attending the antenatal clinic at LUDWM Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal; by means of a cross-sectional survey. The majority of the 286 respondents (76.6) were aged 18 to 29 years; 65.8 of the pregnancies were unplanned. Most (80.1) knew about injectable contraception. Condoms were used by 85.3; followed by injectable contraception (80) and oral contraceptives (62.5). Contraception was discontinued because of irregular vaginal bleeding (14) or weight gain (3.8). Of the women who planned for this pregnancy; 69 were using oral contraceptives. The general knowledge of modern contraception among the women was good; condoms were the contraception of choice; and most accessible. Employed women used emergency contraception and the withdrawal method more often than unemployed women. However; the most common forms of contraception used by both employed and unemployed women were condoms; oral contraceptives and injectable contraception. In this study the high unemployment rate; low education and limited access to modern contraception were associated with low contraceptive utilisation and high rates of unwanted pregnancies

Factors Affecting Unmet Need for Family Planning in Southern Nations; Nationalities and Peoples Region; Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: High fertility and low contraceptive prevalence characterize Southern Nations; Nationalities and Peoples Region. In such populations; unmet needs for contraception have a tendency to be high; mainly due to the effect of socio-economic and demographic variables. However; there has not been any study examining the relationship between these variables and unmet need in the region. This study; therefore; identifies the key socio- demographic determinants of unmet need for family planning in the region. METHODS: The study used data from the 2000 and 2005 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. A total of 2;133 currently married women age 15-49 from the 2000 survey and 1;988 from the 2005 survey were included in the study. Unmet need for spacing; unmet need for limiting and total unmet need were used as dependent variables. Socio- demographic variables (respondent's age; age at marriage; number of living children; sex composition of living children; child mortality experience; place of residence; respondent's and partner's education; religion and work status) were treated as explanatory variables and their relative importance was examined on each of the dependent variables using multinomial and binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: Unmet need for contraception increased from 35.1in 2000 to 37.4in 2005. Unmet need for spacing remained constant at about 25; while unmet need for limiting increased by 20between 2000 and 2005. Age; age at marriage; number of living children; place of residence; respondent's education; knowledge of family planning; respondent's work status; being visited by a family planning worker and survey year emerged as significant factors affecting unmet need. On the other hand; number of living children; education; age and age at marriage were the only explanatory variables affecting unmet need for limiting. Number of living children; place of residence; age and age at marriage were also identified as factors affecting total unmet need for contraception. CONCLUSION: unmet need for spacing is more prevalent than unmet need for limiting. Women with unmet need for both spacing and limiting are more likely to be living in rural areas; have lower level of education; lower level of knowledge about family planning methods; have no work other than household chores; and have never been visited by a family planning worker. In order to address unmet need for family planning in the region; policy should set mechanisms to enforce the law on minimum age for marriage; improve child survival and increase educational access to females. In addition; the policy should promote awareness creation about family planning in rural areas

Contraceptive Practices of Women in Northern Tshwane; Gauteng Province

Despite the availability of free contraceptives in the Republic of South Africa (RSA); unwanted and unintended pregnancies continue to pose challenges to reproductive health services. Structuredinterviews were conducted with 83 women in the Northern Tshwane area of the Gauteng Province about their contraceptive practices. All the participants couldgain more knowledge about the effective use ofmodern contraceptives. Knowledge about emergency ontraceptives was extremely limited. Although most participants knew about legalised termination of pregnancy services in the RSA; they didnot know how to access these services. The recommendations address ways in which contraceptive services could be improved

Trends and Determinants of Contraceptive Use in Rakai District; Uganda; 1995-98

A prospective study conducted between 1995 and 1998 assessed trends in contraceptive use in rural Rakai District; Uganda.Over a period of 30 months; women's use of modern contraceptives increased significantly from 11 percent to 20 percent. Male condom use inceased from 10 percent to 17 percent The prevalence of pregnancy among sexually active women 15-49 declined significantly from 15 percent to 13 percent. Women practicing family planning for pregnancy prevention were predominantly in the 20-39-year age group; married; better educated; and had higher parity than others; whereas women or men adopting condoms were predominantly young; unmarried; and better educated. Condom use was particularly high among individuals reporting multiple sexual partners or extramarital relationships. Contraceptive use was higher among women who desired fewer children; among those who wished to space or terminate childbearing; among women with previous experience of unwanted births or abortions. Self-perception of HIV risk increased condom use; but HIV testing and counseling had only modest effects. Contraception for pregnancy prevention and for HIV/STD prophylaxis are complementary