Barriers to using postpartum family planning among women in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Contraceptive methods
Low-income country
Maternal health
Postpartum family planning
Sexual reproductive rights
Sub-Saharan Africa
Journal
BMC women's health
ISSN: 1472-6874
Titre abrégé: BMC Womens Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088690
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 04 2023
17 04 2023
Historique:
received:
26
09
2022
accepted:
04
04
2023
medline:
19
4
2023
entrez:
18
4
2023
pubmed:
19
4
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Effective family planning is associated with substantial benefits, including reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality due to the avoidance of unintended pregnancies, and contributions to spacing, timing, and limiting births. However, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, the utilization of modern contraceptive methods is low. This study therefore aimed to identify barriers to using postpartum family planning among women in Zanzibar. Five focus group discussions were conducted with 24 women who gave birth in the maternity unit at a reference hospital in Zanzibar during the first quarter of 2022. The discussions took place in Swahili, were performed with the assistance of an interview guide, and were audio recorded, transcribed in Swahili, and translated to English. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach. Barriers to using postpartum family planning in Zanzibar could be summarized in three generic categories. Inadequate knowledge about postpartum family planning is expressed in the subcategories: inadequate knowledge about contraceptive methods and their mode of action, insufficient quality of family planning services, and belief in traditional and natural medicine for family planning. Perceived risks of modern contraceptive methods are described in the subcategories: fear of being harmed, and fear of irregular bleeding. Limited power in one's own decision about contraceptive use consist of the subcategories: the need to involve the husband, and opposition and lack of interest from the husband. The participants' current knowledge of postpartum family planning was insufficient to either overcome the fear of side-effects or to understand which side-effects were real and likely to happen. The woman's power in her own decision-making around her sexual reproductive rights is of critical importance. Given the barriers identified in this study, the findings call for increased knowledge about family planning methods and their mode of action, and involvement of the husband throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in postpartum family planning education and counselling, in Zanzibar and in similar settings.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Effective family planning is associated with substantial benefits, including reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality due to the avoidance of unintended pregnancies, and contributions to spacing, timing, and limiting births. However, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, the utilization of modern contraceptive methods is low. This study therefore aimed to identify barriers to using postpartum family planning among women in Zanzibar.
METHODS
Five focus group discussions were conducted with 24 women who gave birth in the maternity unit at a reference hospital in Zanzibar during the first quarter of 2022. The discussions took place in Swahili, were performed with the assistance of an interview guide, and were audio recorded, transcribed in Swahili, and translated to English. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach.
RESULTS
Barriers to using postpartum family planning in Zanzibar could be summarized in three generic categories. Inadequate knowledge about postpartum family planning is expressed in the subcategories: inadequate knowledge about contraceptive methods and their mode of action, insufficient quality of family planning services, and belief in traditional and natural medicine for family planning. Perceived risks of modern contraceptive methods are described in the subcategories: fear of being harmed, and fear of irregular bleeding. Limited power in one's own decision about contraceptive use consist of the subcategories: the need to involve the husband, and opposition and lack of interest from the husband.
CONCLUSIONS
The participants' current knowledge of postpartum family planning was insufficient to either overcome the fear of side-effects or to understand which side-effects were real and likely to happen. The woman's power in her own decision-making around her sexual reproductive rights is of critical importance. Given the barriers identified in this study, the findings call for increased knowledge about family planning methods and their mode of action, and involvement of the husband throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in postpartum family planning education and counselling, in Zanzibar and in similar settings.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37069560
doi: 10.1186/s12905-023-02330-2
pii: 10.1186/s12905-023-02330-2
pmc: PMC10111817
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
182Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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