Women on top: the relative influence of wives and husbands on contraceptive use in KwaZulu-Natal

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative influence of husband and wife on contraceptive practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult men and women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A matched file for 238 married or cohabiting couples was created. RESULTS: Knowledge of methods of contraception was virtually universal and attitudes to contraception were favorable both in men and women. A substantial proportion of men and women reported using a method of contraception. The wife's desire to stop childbearing was the most powerful predictor of contraceptive use among couples, after adjustment for possible confounders. The husband's approval (or not) of family planning and his preference for future childbearing were not significantly related to contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: Contraceptive use within marital and cohabiting unions is high and the wife's fertility preference was found to be a key determinant of use. This conclusion challenges conventional wisdom that men are the dominant decision-makers in fertility and family planning decisions.     

Emergency contraception and prevention of induced abortion in India

OBJECTIVE: Induced abortion is associated with high morbidity and mortality in India. Use of regular contraception with emergency contraception (EC) as backup can reduce the incidence of induced abortion. The study aimed to assess women's knowledge, practice, preference and acceptance of different contraceptive methods with special reference to the causes of induced abortion, and their willingness to use hormonal EC. METHODS: The study comprised a structured questionnaire survey conducted in the family planning clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. A total of 623 women and three men seeking contraceptive advice and/or termination of pregnancy were interviewed. The main outcome measures were knowledge of different contraceptive methods including EC and the reasons for unintended pregnancy. RESULTS: More than 99% of the respondents knew about most of the modern methods of contraception whereas only 37 (5.9%; 95% CI 4.0-7.8) of the respondents knew about EC and none of them had ever used it. Contraceptive method failure led to unintended pregnancy in 39.1% (95% CI 33.7-44.5) of abortion seekers. Correct use of EC could have prevented nearly 65.5% (95% CI 57.0-74.0) of induced abortions due to contraceptive method failure and 25.6% (95% CI 20.7-30.5) of all induced abortions. CONCLUSIONS: More efforts are required to generate awareness about the safety, efficacy and availability of EC, regular use of effective contraception and the health hazards of induced abortion.     

Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and practice among married women in Samaru community, Zaria, Nigeria

Contraceptive use and fertility rates vary substantially among developing countries. In some sub-Saharan African countries, fewer than 10% of married women use contraception. Despite all efforts by governments to ensure availability of the products, prevalence has remained low. We conducted a community-based study to examine contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning among married women in Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to study 200 women in Samaru community of Zaria, Nigeria. Mean age of the respondents was 30.6 +/- 1.5 years. In this study contraceptive prevalence was 12.5% and respondents had a positive attitude towards family planning. Thirty years after Alma Ata of which one of the components is to ensure maternal and child health (MCH) and family planning, contraceptive use in most of the communities in Northern Nigeria is low. There is urgent need to step-up public awareness campaigns on family planning to ensure wide spread acceptability and utilization among women within reproductive age group.     

重复人工流产女性避孕态度及行为的调查分析

目的了解重复人工流产女性、避孕态度及避孕行为,为制定相应干预措施提供依据.方法 对2005年9月至2006年8月间,参与北京海淀区“早孕终止妊娠后避孕干预效果分析”项目的1098例早孕重复人工流产女性进行问卷调查,干预后6个月时进行随访,了解其避孕行为.结果 对于是否避孕及避孕方法的选择,仅65.0％的已婚者及57...     

Family planning increase in some African countries

Governments in sub-Saharan Africa, recognizing the economic and health benefits of slower population growth, have begun to adopt explicit policies aimed at reducing growth rates. More countries also are providing support to family planning programs. In 1985, more than 70% of the 402 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa lived in countries which have government-supported family planning programs. Yet, the coverage of many of these programs has been and remains limited. Reflecting low demand as well as problems in supplying contraceptive services, results from national-level surveys conducted in 10 countries between 1977-82 as part of the World Fertility Survey (WFS) program showed that approximately 5% of the currently married women aged 15-49 in these countries were using contraceptive methods. More encouraging are the results of surveys conducted in Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe in 1984 as part of the international Contraceptive Prevalence Survey (CPS) program which demonstrate that family planning programs in Africa can be very successful. The CPS data show that substantial proportions of currently married women aged 15-49 in all 3 countries are currently practicing family planning. The level of current use of contraception reported in the CPSs in Botswana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe lay to rest the myth that women in sub-Saharan Africa are unwilling to use family planning. The majority of current users in all 3 countries use modern contraceptive methods. Most nonusers in the 3 countries know at least 1 family planning method. Male approval of family planning also seems to be common, although men are reported to be somewhat more likely than their wives to disapprove of family planning. Despite the fact that there is relatively widespread adoption of modern contraceptive method in Zimbabwe and Botswana as well as an increasing reliance on family planning methods in Kenya, the CPS results show that women in these 3 countries continue to have and want large families. The mean number of children ever born to women aged 45-49 ranges from 6.8 children in Botswana to 8.2 children in Kenya. Interest in planning their families is widespread among women in the 3 countries despite the high fertility expectations.     

Accelerating India's fertility decline: the role of temporary contraceptive methods

This report summarizes findings from the 1992-93 National Family Health Survey of India, on fertility and contraceptive use. Fertility declined about 2 children/woman during 1972-92. The total fertility rate in 1992-93 was 3.4 children/woman. The average desired number of children among ever married women aged 13-49 years was 2.9 children/woman. Among the 41% of women who used contraception, 76% relied on sterilization. 27% of currently married women of reproductive age were sterilized, and 3% had husbands who were sterilized. 20% of women had an unmet need for family planning. 64% of all women currently using temporary methods wanted no more children. 11% desired more children after an interval of 2 or more years. 9% desired a stop to childbearing. Women not currently using contraception and intending to use in the future preferred sterilization (59%) or a temporary method (36%). Currently, 24% of contraceptive users rely on temporary methods. It is likely that meeting unmet need for temporary methods would substantially increase contraceptive use. Women who were not using any method averaged 2.7 children, while sterilized women had 4.0 children. Women who used traditional methods averaged 2.8 children. Women using temporary methods averaged 2.6 children. It is unlikely that sterilization would further reduce fertility much below levels already reached. Women sterilized before the age of 24 years tended to have modest sized families, but most women were sterilized at older ages. Currently, only 10% of married women use temporary methods, and only 6% use a modern method.     

某市未婚人工流产女青年避孕知识与行为现况调查

[目的]了解郑州市未婚人工流产女青年避孕知识和行为及其影响因素。[方法]采用整群抽样的方法,选取2005年8月～2005年10月在郑州市省级及市级医院自愿要求人工流产的未婚女青年进行横断面调查。[结果]被调查者首次性行为始于16.4至25岁间,未采取避孕措施(68.3%)和避孕失败(31.7%)是导致非意愿妊娠的主要原因。在432名曾经使用过避孕方法的女青年中,最常用的避孕方法依次是安全套、紧急避孕、安全期。单因素分析结果显示:年龄、出生地、文化程度等是影响避孕知识得分的主要因素。Logistic回归分析结果显示,流产女青年在过去3个月中的避孕行为与男方是否关心避孕问题和流产次数有关。[结论]该市亟需对未婚青年开展有关避孕知识的性教育,提高对意外妊娠风险和人工流产并发症的认识,促进男性积极参与避孕。     

Declines in the age and family size of family planning program acceptors: international trends

Social changes are encouraging couples to inititate contraception at younger ages, practice spacing, and in general reduce fertility. The personal characteristics of acceptors in the family planning programs of 23 developing countries were accumulated with concentration on the age and number of children by contraceptive method. The findings indicate that the ages and family sizes of acceptors decline with little relation to available family planning programs or contraceptive method. Contraceptive methods must fit the needs of younger couples; therefore, services for sterilization must still be maintained while new services are added which take into account age distributions of married women and age-specific acceptance rates.     

Attitude survey of married women regarding family planning at Urban Health Centre, Alambagh, Lucknow

A survey was conducted from March to September 1966 of 94 of the 501 married women attending the IUCD clinic at the Alambagh Urban Health Center to establish a baseline by which to judge women's attitudes towards family planning programs and to known methods of contraception. 49% of the women were illiterate. 34% of the men were agricultural workers and 38% were in technical jobs. 83% of the women thought that family size could be planned, 17% did not. 83% of the women knew of at least 1 method of contraception and 64% had seen some form of contraception, but 70% of the women had never used any contraceptive method. There is a need for personal contact by trained health workers to translate the knowledge of contraception into practice.     

The quality of family planning services in rural China.

This article provides a preliminary analysis of three aspects of service quality in four rural counties in China--the availability of contraceptive methods, information given to users, and provider knowledge about methods. Contraceptive choice and characteristics of contraceptive use by women in the study areas are also examined. The data are derived from a survey carried out by the authors during 1987, under the auspices of China's State Family Planning Commission. The survey was conducted in four rural counties located in Fujian and Heilongjiang provinces. A total of 318 married women of reproductive age were randomly selected and interviewed. All family planning service sites serving the women were visited and a sample of service providers was interviewed. No shortage of contraceptives existed in any of the counties, but variations in community wealth and local procurement practices have resulted in the acquisition of an IUD with high failure rates. Although providers believe they inform women about method choices and side effects, women were poorly informed about the methods they selected. Not all providers who insert IUDs and distribute pills were knowledgeable about contraindications and side effects of the methods. Ever-use of contraception was nearly 100 percent, but most women, especially in Heilongjiang, have only used one method: the IUD or sterilization. Improvements in quality, especially in method mix, providers' level of knowledge, and the quality and quantity of information provided to users will likely improve contraceptive continuation, client satisfaction, and women's health.     

Factors influencing contraceptive use in Tehran

BACKGROUND: Despite reluctance to conceive, approximately 30% of couples do not use any method of contraception. Health concerns, side effects, failure of the method and some demographic issues such as education, age, residential region and number of living children have a major effect on contraceptive use. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine those factors which influence contraceptive use in Tehran. METHODS: Data from the project "The Study of the Effectiveness of Postpartum Consultation about Family Planning on Contraceptive Practice during 2 years after Parturition in University Hospitals of Tehran in 1996" were applied for the analysis of those factors which influence contraceptive use by Iranian couples. A total of 4177 women of reproductive age who gave birth in one of the 12 hospitals in Tehran during the 24 hours following the interview of the initial study and had at least one living child were enrolled in the present study. The questionnaire used included some questions about socio-demographic status, fertility history, knowledge of contraceptives and the source of this knowledge, and previous contraception practice and its effectiveness. RESULTS: Using a logistic regression model, it was found that age, women's level of education, their husbands' level of education and previous familiarity with contraceptive methods were the most significant factors influencing contraceptive use. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that health policy makers strengthen the family planning services through providing appropriate counselling in family planning clinics.     

上海市产后妇女避孕方法选择的定性研究

目的:了解上海市产后妇女避孕措施的选择及其影响因素,并了解妇幼保健和计划生育机构对产后避孕服务提供情况。方法:采用个人访谈和小组讨论的研究方法,对上海市分娩1年内的产妇以及参与产后家庭访视的妇幼保健和计划生育工作人员进行访谈。结果:妇女产后早期倾向选择对身体康复和哺乳没有影响的避孕套和安全期避孕,一段时期之后倾向选择避孕效率更高的方法。选择避孕方法的种类受妇产科医生的建议和亲戚朋友避孕经验的影响较大。产妇避孕知识整体水平不高,普遍不了解哺乳避孕法以及口服避孕药、皮下埋植剂等避孕方法。由于产后访视员避孕知识的不足使得产后访视几乎未开展有效的避孕指导。结论:采取多种措施,提高产妇避孕知识,扩大产后避孕方法的选择,改善产后访视的避孕指导。     

农村已婚人群避孕节育知情选择认知和需求调查

目的:了解农村已婚人群对避孕节育知情选择的认知与需求。方法:采用定性研究专题小组访谈的方法,选择甘肃省临泽县、永靖县的已婚育龄妇女,已婚男子,计划生育干部和技术服务人员等四类人群作为调查对象,每类人群组织2个小组,由项目专家主持,分组进行访谈。结果:甘肃省已婚男女对避孕节育知情选择的知识了解不多,避孕方法知道3～5种,但对各种避孕方法的原理、使用、优缺点及禁忌证知之甚少;在选择避孕方法方面仍显被动;男性对避孕方法知情选择的主动参与意识较差;多数人认为由计划生育服务人员和自管小组长提供避孕方法知情选择咨询最好,服务所的设备需加强,服务人员的技术水平需提高。结论:应加强对已婚男女避孕节育知情选择知识的宣传教育,提高计划生育服务机构的服务能力。     

Correlates of women's cancer screening and contraceptive knowledge among female emergency department patients

Background

Lack of knowledge regarding preventive health services for women might impede campaigns to expand these services in the emergency department setting. For 18–55-year-old English-speaking women visiting an urban emergency department, we aimed to: (1) Ascertain their knowledge regarding the applicability, purpose, and recommended intervals of three women's cancer screening and three contraceptive methods; and (2) Determine if patient age, race/ethnicity, medical insurance status, and current or recent usage of these methods are associated with greater or lesser knowledge about them.

Methods

Emergency department-based survey on recent or current usage and knowledge about Pap smears, breast self-examinations, mammograms, condoms, birth control, and emergency contraception. Analyses included calculation of summary statistics and creation of multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Of 1,100 patients eligible for the study, 69.9% agreed to participate. Most of the participants were < age 35, white, single (never married and no partner), Catholic, and had private medical insurance. Participant's recent or current usage of a particular cancer screening or contraceptive method varied by type of method: Pap smear within the past year (69.1%), breast self-exam within the past month (45.5%), mammogram within the past year (65.7% for women age 45–55), condom usage during every episode of sexual intercourse (15.4%), current usage of birth control pills (17.8%), and ever use of emergency contraception (9.3%). The participants correctly answered 87.9% of all survey questions about condoms, 82.5% about birth control pills, 78.5% about breast self-exams, 52.9% about Pap smears, 35.4% about mammograms, and 25.0% about emergency contraception. In multivariable logistic regression models, survey participants who had private medical insurance and those who recently or currently used a given screening or contraceptive method had a greater odds of correctly answering all questions about each cancer screening or contraceptive method.

Conclusion

Although these female ED patients demonstrated strong knowledge on some women's cancer screening and contraceptive methods, there were several areas of knowledge deficit. Women without private medical insurance and those who have not used a particular cancer screening or contraceptive method demonstrated less knowledge. Reduced knowledge about women's cancer screening and contraceptive methods should be considered during clinical encounters and when instituting or evaluating emergency department-based initiatives that assess the need for these methods.     

长沙市女性人工流产及避孕现状调查

目的了解女性人工流产状况、避孕现状及其影响因素,为合理采用避孕措施、提高女性生殖健康水平提供参考依据。方法对在长沙市妇幼保健院行人工流产术的3 260例妇女进行问卷调查,其中合格问卷3 056份。收集调查对象的婚育史、流产史、获得避孕节育知识的途径、避孕方法的使用、避孕知识掌握情况、意外妊娠原因等情况,进行统计分析,并提出应对措施。结果未婚人工流产1 449例(47.41%),已婚人工流产1 607例(52.59%);避孕失败2 177例(71.24%),其中采用避孕套失败的653例(21.37%),未采取避孕措施879例(28.76%);两次以上的重复人工流产2 067例(67.64%)。多因素分析结果显示:受教育程度、经济水平和避孕知识掌握情况为重复人工流产的危险因素(P0.05)。结论避孕失败是人工流产的主要因素,未婚女性所占比例与已婚女性相近;应对未婚女性施以正确、专业的生殖健康和避孕知识教育;受教育程度、经济水平和避孕知识掌握情况对重复人工流产具有影响。     

四川省农村育龄妇女避孕方法知情选择干预项目研究报告

目的:评价开展避孕节育知情选择活动对四川省农村育龄妇女的避孕节育知识和知情选择的知识、能力、态度和避孕行为等影响。方法:在四川省兴文县的2个乡开展持续1·5年的、以社区为基础、20~49岁的已婚育龄妇女为对象的干预性研究,干预活动包括组织社区宣传活动、发放宣传资料、播放录像带、组织讲座、面对面的宣传和开展同伴教育,分析干预效果。结果:干预组育龄妇女对避孕方法的使用、原理、优点、缺点得分明显高于对照组,且在干预后避孕方法使用率及使用避孕套的比例均高于干预前;避孕方法使用的最终决定者由干预前计划生育服务人员转变为干预后为本人。结论:集知识、信息、咨询与服务为一体的社区避孕节育知情选择干预项目的实施,可显著提高农村育龄妇女的避孕节育知识水平和她们选择避孕方法的能力。     

Knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among graduating female students of jimma university, southwest ethiopia

Background

Emergency contraception refers to methods that women can use to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, method failure or incorrect use. Unwanted pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion can be avoided by using different contraceptive methods including emergency contraceptives. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among graduating female students of Jimma University main campus.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma University main campus in 2009. The calculated sample size was allocated to each faculty proportions to size of female students. Then within the faculty the sample unit was selected by using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using self administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS for widow version 16.0.

Results

A total of 389 (96.5%) volunteered graduating female students participated in the study. One hundred sixty three (41.9%) were ever heard of Emergency Contraceptive, only 11(6.8%) used the method. The common sources of information were friends 60 (36.5%), radio 37 (22.8%) and television 20 (12.3%). One hundred sixteen (71.2%) agreed to use Emergency Contraceptive when they practice unintended sexual intercourse.

Conclusion

Awareness and use of emergency contraception among graduating female students of Jimma University was low. There is a need to educate adolescents about emergency contraceptives, with emphasis on available methods and correct timing of use.     

育龄妇女避孕知识知晓率调查及影响因素分析

目的:了解山东省育龄妇女避孕知识知晓率及其影响因素。方法:采用问卷调查,对4 828名20-49岁育龄妇女的避孕知识得分及其影响因素进行分析。结果:①大部分育龄群众的避孕知识得分在10-30分(满分50分),占65%,及格率只有13.1%。调查对象大多知道IUD、避孕套、输卵管结扎术、输精管结扎术及避孕药。②影响避孕节育知识得分的因素有年龄、文化程度、村分类、是否参加计生宣传培训、读报刊、看电视听广播、上网、个别查询、是否了解现采用避孕措施、技术服务人员是否提供宣传资料、是否知道知情选择的含义、能否自主选择避孕方法等。结论:采取有针对性的干预措施和开展健康教育,促进生殖健康,推动育龄妇女避孕方法知情选择,可提高育龄妇女避孕知识知晓率。     

北京市未婚人工流产女青年避孕知识、态度、行为的调查研究

目的：研究未婚人工流产（人流）女青年的避孕知识,态度、行为以及影响避孕行为的因素。方法：以Lawrence的PROCEDE-pROCEED健康促进计划模式为基础的调查问卷,对306例自愿要求人工流产,年龄在18－24岁的未婚女青年进行断面的调查。结果：近12个月以来,仅有13％和女青地持每次性行为都使用避孕方法,偶尔使用和从未使用者的比例分别为26％和275,在224例曾经用过避孕方法的女青年中,最常用的方法分别是避孕套（495）、体外排精（285）、安全期（165）,在从未使用任何避孕方法的女青年中,735认为没想到会怀孕是最主要的不避孕的原因。logistic 逐步回归分析显示,女青年对避孕知识的了解,对意外妊娠风险的认识,男友对避孕方法使用的态度。与男友讨论避孕方法,对占孕服务可及性的感受是影响女 年既往避孕行为的主要因素,结论亟需对未婚青年开展有关避孕知识的性教育,提高对意外妊娠风险和人工并发症的认识促进男性积极参与避孕,加强性伴侣之间有关避孕方法的交流。     

Partner Discussion as a Mediator of the Effects of Mass Media Exposure to FP on Contraceptive Use among Young Nigerians: Evidence from 3 Urban Cities

Evidence suggests that despite high knowledge of family planning (FP), unwanted pregnancies and birth rates remain high among young Nigerians. There is a critical gap in understanding the nexus between exposure to FP information and contraception practices among this population. This study aimed to fill this gap and tested a pathway of the impact of media exposure to FP messages on modern contraceptive use. Data came from a 2018 cross-sectional baseline survey of young people aged 15–24 in three urban centers in Nigeria – Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano. This was part of an impact evaluation of a television-based drama designed to improve contraceptive use among young individuals. The study was limited to 777 young men and women who were sexually active. We found evidence of the mediation effect of media exposure to FP messages on partner discussion about FP, which in turn was associated with an increased likelihood of modern contraceptive use. Contraceptive self-efficacy also had positive associations with contraception. Our study elucidated a potential pathway through which media communication programs can significantly contribute to increased modern contraceptive use and underlined the importance of providing young people in Nigeria with opportunities to learn and practice obtaining and using contraception.