Table 1 Women’s perceptions of factors associated with non-use of modern contraceptives in Southern Ethiopia
(N = 34) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Perception | n | % | Examples |
Negative attitudes towards contraceptives; side-effects outweigh benefits | 23 | 67 | “I have heard that taking depo [Depo-Provera] for an unmarried woman is dangerous and can make her sterile. The nurse also told me that taking depo long term will cause fertility problems and it is better to use one of the long-term contraceptives at one time.” [22 years-old, employed] |
“I believe they [modern contraceptives] are dangerous. I had so many side effects including heart burn, fatigue, weight gain and I worry that they might also cause long term problems such as infertility, so I prefer to not use any.” [ 22 years-old, employed] | |||
“In our community, there is a widely held belief that if a woman takes contraceptives before getting married, she will be infertile. So, most women don’t use any type of modern contraception.” [23 years-old, student] | |||
Preference for traditional contraceptive, mainly periodic abstinence | 12 | 35 | “I used to use my periods to regulate safe times to have intercourse. But I still got pregnant. Women have to be educated about this and other methods.” [24-years-old, unemployed] |
“My brother-in-law who is a doctor told me not to use it [modern contraceptives] so I only use my period to regulate the timing for safe sex.” [19-years-old, employed] | |||
Experience with failed modern contraception | 12 | 35 | “I used an emergency [morning-after] pill within 72 h, but it didn’t have the instruction package when he [her boyfriend] bought it, so I don’t know if I followed the proper instructions.” [19-years-old, student] |
“I was using depo consistently and was shocked to find out that I had gotten pregnant. I am a mother of 5 children and cannot afford to feed another mouth. I am very sad and I feel like I am being forced to get an abortion because I was using something that I was told would prevent a pregnancy. I cannot have another child…” [35-years-old, housewife] | |||
Lack of knowledge about modern contraceptives and the various options available | 18 | 53 | “I did not know much about contraception or abortion pills before I came here. The doctor gave me a phone number and told me that if I ever need abortion pills again, I could call the number and find a person who would sell it to me.” [19-years-old student] |
“I did not know anything about any sort of contraceptive before she [community worker] persuaded me to come to the clinic, I got tested for HIV and started using depo [Depo-Provera]” [25-years-old, employed] | |||