Table 5 Myths or beliefs and traditional misconceptions heard by married womens in the reproductive age in Debre Markos town, North West Ethiopia, April 2012
Variables | N (%) | |
|---|---|---|
Heard myths (N = 519) | Yes | 246 (47.4) |
No | 273 (52.6) | |
Implants myths (N = 164) | Prevents from daily work (weakens, tingling & numbness of arm/hand) | 82 (50.0) |
It brings menstrual abnormalities | 55 (33.5) | |
It has many health problems | 26 (15.9) | |
It makes infertile | 20 (12.2) | |
It makes irritable or brings behavioral change | 20 (12.2) | |
Brings hypertension or raises blood pressure | 19 (11.6) | |
It causes headache and blurring of vision | 17 (10.4) | |
Weight loss or makes thin | 16 (9.8) | |
Others* | 17 (10.4) | |
IUDs myths (N = 79) | It makes infertile | 33 (41.8) |
It brings/causes genital infection | 17 (21.5) | |
It has many health problems | 17 (21.5) | |
Causes menstrual irregularity | 11 (13.9) | |
It may decompose within the womb/uterus | 8 (10.1) | |
High chance of expulsion & pregnancy may occur | 6 (7.6) | |
Interferes with sexual activity | 5 (6.3) | |
Others ** | 21 (26.6) | |
Female sterilizations myths (N = 26) | Makes infertile | 10 (38.5) |
It has many health problems and life threatening | 7 (26.9) | |
It needs major operation | 4 (15.4) | |
Predispose to uterine infection | 4 (15.4) | |
Decreases sexual desire | 3 (11.5) | |
Vasectomies myths (N = 22) | Inability to erect or weakens penis/impotency | 20 (90.9) |
It has health problems | 3 (13.6) | |