Side-Effects and Social Norms Influencing Family Planning Use in Nepal

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Nepal faces challenges in family planning (FP) despite a 50% contraceptive prevalence rate, with 27% of married women having unmet needs.
• Nearly half of Nepalese women give birth by age 20, highlighting the need for effective reproductive health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate barriers influencing contraceptive use in Nepal.
• To understand fertility awareness and challenges faced by underserved communities in accessing family planning services.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing 36 focus group discussions, 18 participatory group discussions, and 144 in-depth interviews across five districts.
• Participants included young married women, men, and FP service providers, with data analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified include limited knowledge of fertility and FP methods.
• Religious-cultural factors and social norms impede contraceptive use.
• Fear of side effects, myths, and structural barriers like limited services and lack of same-gender providers restrict access.

Conclusions:

• Sustaining contraceptive prevalence requires educational interventions on fertility awareness and social norms.
• Dispelling fears about side effects and expanding the contraceptive method mix are essential.
• Health providers must offer continuous counseling and accurate information on modern contraceptives.