Influence of sociocultural beliefs and practices on contraception: a systematic review

In this systematic review, we aimed to explore the influence of sociocultural beliefs and practices on contraception and their uptake among women in low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). For this purpose, a literature search was conducted using four databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and EBSCOhost Research Platform. Twenty-five articles were selected and analyzed out of a total of 5180 retrieved and screened articles. We used thematic analysis to identify, interpret and report patterns and themes from these records. The analysis identified six factors influencing the uptake of contraceptive methods among women aged 13 to 65-years in LICs and LMICs in relation to their sociocultural beliefs and practices. We found that women's social status and responsibility were recognized at the individual level and the unique patriarchal culture at the partner level, while community-level factors included myths and misconceptions, cultural differences and religious beliefs. Thus, the main challenges to the uptake of contraceptive methods among women in terms of sociocultural norms occur at varying levels of society. This review suggests the need for future family planning programs and health education to target specific community levels and especially to consider diverse social and cultural backgrounds.