Barriers to modern contraceptive utilization in Ethiopia

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Contraception is vital for women's reproductive health, enabling control over fertility and reducing unintended pregnancies.
• Modern contraceptive use is low in Ethiopia's Afar and Somali regions, correlating with high fertility rates.
• Understanding sociocultural barriers is essential for improving contraceptive uptake in these areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore sociocultural barriers to modern contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia's Afar and Somali regions.
• To provide qualitative insights for developing effective strategies to enhance contraceptive service utilization.

Main Methods:

• A sequential mixed-methods approach, combining a scoping review of studies (2013-2023) with qualitative in-depth interviews.
• Conducted 20 in-depth interviews with women (15-49) and 7 key informant interviews with health workers.
• Employed thematic analysis for data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Key barriers identified include religious/cultural beliefs, myths, fear of side effects, partner opposition, and lack of spousal communication.
• Socio-demographic factors like education, income, and urban residence positively influenced utilization.
• Lack of awareness, misconceptions, stigma, and distance to facilities negatively impacted contraceptive uptake.

Conclusions:

• Recommended promoting contraceptive use by challenging socio-cultural norms via Social Behavioural Communication and Counselling (SBCC).
• Emphasized the importance of engaging partners and community members in family planning initiatives.
• Highlighted the need for improving the quality of contraceptive care services.