Family planning: choices and challenges for developing countries

Contraceptive use in women with mental illness in Soweto, South Africa

Background

The psychosocial and medical implications of unplanned pregnancy in women with mental illness (MI) are vast. International guidelines make clear recommendations about family planning for women with MI, particularly those exposed to known human teratogens; however, there is limited research related to contraceptive usage among women with MI.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of consistent contraceptive use and family planning education (FPE) among a population of women of childbearing age with MI.

Setting

This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Chris Hani Baragwanath psychiatric unit in Soweto, South Africa.

Methods

A convenience sample comprising 190 eligible women of childbearing age with MI was employed for the study. The women were invited to participate by means of a structured questionnaire which was administered by the researcher. Clinical information was obtained from the patients' medical records.

Results

Consistent contraceptive usage occurred in 44.7% of participants. Family planning education was low (26.8%). Relationship status was associated with using contraception consistently (p = 0.0229). Teratogen exposure was not associated with either contraceptive use or FPE. Family planning education was not associated with contraceptive use.

Conclusion

Women with MI may have increased risk for unplanned pregnancy if they are not in a relationship because of perceived lack of need for contraception.

Contribution

Family planning education must be prioritised in women with MI, especially among women prescribed teratogenic medication, highlighting the risks associated with unplanned pregnancy.

Learning from success cases: ecological analysis of potential pathways to universal access to family planning care in low- and middle-income countries

Background  Universal access to family planning services is a well-recognized human right and several countries and organizations are committed to this goal. Our objective was to identify countries who improved family planning coverage in the last 40 years and investigate which contexts enabled those advances.  Methods  Analyses were based on data from publicly available national health surveys carried out since 1986 in Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Brazil, and Ecuador, selected based on previous evidence. We estimated demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods (mDFPS) for each country and explored inequalities in terms of wealth, women's education, and women's age. We also explored contextual differences in terms of women's empowerment, percentage of population living in extreme poverty, and share of each type of contraceptive. To better understand political and sociocultural contexts, country case studies were included, based on literature review.  Results  Patterns of mDFPS increase were distinct in the selected countries. Current level of mDFPS coverage ranged between 94% in Brazil and 38% in Afghanistan. All countries experienced an important reduction in both gender inequality and extreme poverty. According to the share of each type of contraceptive, most countries presented higher use of short-acting reversible methods. Exceptions were Ecuador, where the most used method is sterilization, and Egypt, which presented higher use of long-acting reversible methods. In the first years analyzed, all countries presented huge gaps in coverage according to wealth, women's education and women's age. All countries managed to increase coverage over recent years, especially among women from the more disadvantaged groups.  Conclusions  Family planning coverage increased along with reductions in poverty and gender inequality, with substantial increases in coverage among the most disadvantaged in recent years. Policies involving primary health care services, provision of various methods, and high quality training of health providers are crucial to increase coverage.

A cross-sectional study of factors associated with immediate postpartum uptake of contraceptive implants in Papua New Guinea

OBJECTIVES

In 2016 the Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea introduced a midwife led postpartum contraception service to educate patients and provide contraceptive implants. This study examines the factors that were associated with immediate postpartum uptake of the implants.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients on the hospital postnatal ward who gave birth between March 2017 and January 2018. Patients aged 16-45 who had a vaginal birth with a singleton, live baby not requiring admission to the special care nursery were eligible for inclusion and invited to complete a survey prior to discharge.

RESULTS

Of 2082 patients approached, all consented to participate in the survey. Of those completing the survey, 531 (25.5%) chose to have the contraceptive implant provided immediately postpartum. Excluding patients who chose tubal ligation (n = 330), in multivariable analysis, higher odds of implant uptake was associated with no prior contraception use compared to prior use (aOR 1.38; 95% CI 1.07 -1.77), unplanned pregnancy compared to planned (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07-1.79), and having received antenatal education about the implant compared to no information (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.23-2.10).

CONCLUSIONS

Antenatal education about the contraceptive implant impacted on likelihood of immediate postpartum method uptake. Patients who had no prior use of contraception and those with unplanned pregnancies were also more likely to request the implants, suggesting that the midwife-led postpartum service is successfully reaching patients with a previous unmet need for contraception.

IMPLICATIONS

This study demonstrates successful delivery of a postpartum implant program in a setting where community access to contraception is limited. Antenatal information and education can support implant uptake and that the program provides the opportunity for birth spacing and limiting in patients with a previous unmet need.

Predictors of modern contraceptive use among reproductive age women in high fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from demographic and health surveys

BACKGROUND

The world's population has increased faster than expected due to high fertility rates, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for most of the increase. Modern contraceptive use is the best option to reduce the high fertility rate. There is limited information on the prevalence of modern contraception and its predictors in sub-Saharan Africa's high-fertility countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of modern contraception among reproductive-age women in high fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

We used Demographic and Health Survey data sets from the top 10 high fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Stata version 16.0 software was used to analyze the data, and all statistical analyses were completed after the data had been weighted. Multilevel binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval, and a p value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

RESULTS

The prevalence of modern contraceptive use in all the countries considered in this study was 10.72% (95% CI 10.57, 10.87). In terms of the predictor variables, young aged women, those who had attended a primary or secondary level of formal education, women who received antenatal care follow up, women who reported distance to the health facility as not a big problem, and women from rich families were more likely to use modern contraceptives.

CONCLUSION

Only one in 10 women of reproductive age used modern contraceptive methods in high fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa. To improve the use of modern contraceptives, governments and non-governmental organizations studied in the countries should intensify programs that focus on those women who are economically poor, those with no formal education, no media exposure, and those with no antenatal care follow up.

Reducing Psychological Impacts on Children with Chronic Disease via Family Empowerment: A Scoping Review

Chronic diseases cause physical and psychological impacts on sufferers. In dealing with illness, the family is not involved in the treatment of chronic diseases. Children also do not receive support from their families in dealing with their illness. Family empowerment is an important thing to implement in treating children with chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore family empowerment interventions as potential methods to reduce the impact of chronic disease. This study used the scoping review method. A literature review was conducted via CINAHL, PubMed, and ProQuest databases. The keywords used in English were "family empowerment OR family center empowerment" AND "child OR children" AND "chronic disease". The criteria for articles in this study were full text, free access, randomized control trial or quasi-experiment research design, English language, population and samples of chronic disease, and the publication period of the last 10 years (2013-2022). We found nine articles that used a family empowerment intervention in an effort to reduce the impact of chronic disease on children. Most of the study designs were randomized control trial and quasi-experiment. Some of the benefits of family empowerment interventions were quality of life, family care, and self-ability. The interventions helped the families to be empowered and actively participate in caring for children with chronic diseases. There were nine articles that discussed family empowerment interventions that have an impact in dealing with the impact of chronic disease on children, namely improving quality of life, family care, and self-ability.

A Meta-Analysis of Induced Abortion, Alcohol Consumption, and Smoking Triggering Breast Cancer Risk among Women from Developed and Least Developed Countries

BACKGROUND

The most prominent form of cancer in women is breast cancer, and modifiable lifestyle risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and induced abortion, can all contribute significantly to this disease.

OBJECTIVES

This study's primary purpose was to assess the prevalence of breast cancer among women in developed and developing countries and the association between three modifiable hazard factors (induced abortion, smoking behavior, and alcohol use) and breast cancer.

METHODS

This study performed a systematic literature database review up to September 21, 2021. We employed meta-analytic tools such as the random effects model, forest plot, and subgroup analysis to conduct the research. Additionally, we conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the influence of outliers.

RESULTS

According to the random effects model, smoker women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer from different countries (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.08-1.97). In the case of induced abortion, the pooled estimate (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.01-1.53) indicated a significant link between abortion and breast cancer. Subgroup analysis revealed that smoking substantially influences breast cancer in developing and developed countries. Breast cancer was more common among women who smoked in developed countries than in developing nations.

CONCLUSION

The observed findings give sufficient support for the hypothesis that smoking and abortion have a significant influence on breast cancer in different nations. Health organizations should individually design comprehensive scientific plans to raise awareness about the risks of abortion and smoking in developed and developing countries.

Exploring Readiness for Birth Control in Improving Women Health Status: Factors Influencing the Adoption of Modern Contraceptives Methods for Family Planning Practices

Background: Pakistan is the world’s sixth most populated country, with a population of approximately 208 million people. Despite this, just 25% of legitimate couples say they have used modern contraceptive methods. A large body of literature has indicated that sexual satisfaction is a complex and multifaceted concept, since it involves physical and cultural components. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of influencing factors in terms of contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE), contraceptive knowledge, and spousal communication on the adoption of modern contraceptive methods for family planning (FP) under the moderating role of perceived barriers. Methods: Data were collected using an adopted questionnaire issued to married women of reproductive age belonging to the Rawalpindi and Neelum Valley regions in Pakistan. The sample consisted of 250 married women of reproductive age. SPSS was used to analyze the respondents’ feedback. Results: The findings draw public attention towards CSE, contraceptive knowledge, and spousal communication, because these factors can increase the usage of modern methods for FP among couples, leading to a reduction in unwanted pregnancies and associated risks. Regarding the significant moderation effect of perceived barriers, if individuals (women) are highly motivated (CSE) to overcome perceived barriers by convincing their husbands to use contraceptives, the probability to adopt modern contraceptive methods for FP practices is increased. Conclusions: Policymakers should formulate strategies for the involvement of males by designing male-oriented FP program interventions and incorporating male FP workers to reduce communication barriers between couples. Future research should address several other important variables, such as the desire for additional child, myths/misconceptions, fear of side effects, and partner/friend discouragement, which also affect the adoption of modern contraceptive methods for FP practices.

Soft Candy as an Electronic Material Suitable for Salivary Conductivity-Based Medical Diagnostics in Resource-Scarce Clinical Settings

Soft candy was discovered to be an excellent electronic material and was used to fabricate electrodes for salivary conductivity-based diagnostics. Using a simple molding process, a soft candy (Tootsie Roll) was made into 20 × 20 × 5 mm electrodes with a stable frequency response (0.1-100 kHz). The soft candy electrode-liquid interface circuit model was also developed for the first time. Using 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline and artificial saliva of varying conductivities, the performance of the soft candy (Tootsie Roll) electrode was evaluated. The electrode has a low temperature coefficient of ∼0.02 V/C, and the evaporation-induced mass change during measurement (<3 min) was negligible. Using a trenched surface, a limit of detection (LOD) of ∼1630 μS/cm was obtained and was lower than the saliva conductivity of a healthy adult at ∼3500 μS/cm. Thus, it is suitable for monitoring the ovulation cycle for natural family planning as well as chronic kidney disease diagnosis. Given the ubiquity of soft candy, the simplicity of the molding process, and the negligible medical waste stream, it is a more appropriate approach to diagnostics design for resource-scarce clinical settings, such as those in developing countries. The broader impact of this work will be the paradigm shift of soft candy from food to a new class of edible, moldable, high-resistivity, and stable electronic materials.

Mapping Evidence of Impacts of COVID-19 Outbreak on Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Scoping Review

Introduction: The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly transformed the pre-existing worldwide sexual and reproductive health environment. The provision and supply of contraceptives, and a wide variety of sexual health, new-born, and maternal health services have been seriously affected. Thus, this scoping review mapped the available evidence on the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on sexual and reproductive health. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework guided this scoping review. A search was conducted from the following databases: Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, WOS, and AJOL. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) chart and PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist were used to document the review process. The McMaster critical review checklist was used to determine the quality of the included studies. Thematic analyses were conducted using NVivo version 12. Results: Three studies showed evidence on the impact of COVID-19 and family planning services, six studies reported on maternal and child services and eleven studies reported on sexual health (sexual behavior). Limited access to family planning use, reduction in multiple sexual partnership, decreased transactional sex, and maternal and child services disruption were some impacts reported in the included studies. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the impacts of COVID-19 on family planning access, multiple sexual partnership, transactional sex, and disruption of maternal and child health services. Interventions that will consider the immediate availability of and access to all sexual and reproductive health services should be prioritized.

Adaptation of a gender-transformative sexual and reproductive health intervention for adolescent boys in South Africa and Lesotho using intervention mapping

Background: Rates of adolescent HIV and unintended pregnancy in southern Africa are amongst the highest in the world. Gender-transformative interventions that address underlying gender inequalities and engage both males and females have been emphasised by the World Health Organisation, amongst others, to target prevention. However, few such gender-transformative interventions have been rigorously developed or evaluated.Objective: To expedite potential impact and reduce development costs, we conducted a needs assessment to inform the co-design, in consultation with local stakeholders, of adapted versions of an existing gender-transformative Relationships and Sexuality Education intervention for use in South Africa and Lesotho.Methods: Adaptation of the intervention was guided by a modified version of Intervention Mapping (IM). This process involved consultation with separate adolescent, community and expert advisory groups and a collaboratively conducted needs assessment, which drew on focus groups with adolescents (8 groups, n = 55) and adults (4 groups, n = 22) in South Africa and Lesotho, and was informed by our systematic review of the literature on the determinants of condom use among adolescents in the region.Results: The findings clarified how the intervention should be adapted, which individual- and environmental-level determinants of condom use to target, and actions for facilitating successful adoption, evaluation and implementation in the new settings.Conclusions: The IM approach allows for a systematic appraisal of whether components and processes of an existing intervention are appropriate for a new target population before costly evaluation studies are conducted. The findings will be of interest to those wishing to rigourously develop and evaluate gender-transformative interventions engaging men to improve health for all.

Why does uptake of family planning services remain sub-optimal among Nigerian women? A systematic review of challenges and implications for policy

BACKGROUND

Over the years, family planning uptake in Nigeria has remained low and this is as a result of the various challenges and barriers faced by women. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies on family planning services undertaken in Nigeria in order to understand the challenges to uptake of the services and the policy implications.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed in June 2020 and studies that investigated challenges of family planning uptake in Nigeria published in English between 2006 and 2020 were sought. A combination of the search terms family planning, contraceptives, challenges, barriers, Nigeria was used. Review articles, case reports, and case studies were excluded. Studies that did not report barriers or challenges to family planning or contraceptives were excluded.

RESULT

Twenty seven studies carried out in Nigeria which provided sufficient information were identified and used for this review. The Uptake of family planning recorded in the reviewed studies ranges from 10.3 to 66.8%. Challenges that are client related include education, desire for more children, uncertainty about its need, partner disapproval, previous side effects, religious beliefs, culture disapproval, age, marital status, and wealth index, residence, ignorance, embarrassment, domestic violence and sexual factor. Health service related factors identified include cost, difficulty accessing services, and procurement difficulties. Recommendations for family planning propram and policy include targeting of health service delivery for improvement, focus on gender issues and male involvement, involvement of religious leaders, targeting of younger women for better education and counseling, and continuous awareness creation and counseling among others.

CONCLUSION

The review has shown that uptake of family planning remains low in Nigeria and challenges abound. We recommend that strategies that are multi-sectoral should be applied to address the multi-pronged challenges facing uptake of family planning services.

Does gender equality and availability of contraception influence maternal and child mortality? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Current global maternal and child health policies rarely value gender equality or women's rights and are restricted to policies addressing clinical interventions and family planning. Gender equality influences the knowledge, autonomy and utilisation of contraception and healthcare, thereby affecting maternal and child health. This systematic review aims to analyse the concurrent effect of gender equality and contraception on maternal and under-5 child mortality.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to investigate the current evidence. Studies were eligible if three themes-namely, indicators of gender equality (such as female education, labour force participation, gender-based violence), contraception, and maternal or child mortality-were present together in a single article analysing the same sample at the same time.

RESULTS

Even though extensive literature on this topic exists, only three studies managed to fit the selection criteria. Findings of two studies indicated an association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and infant mortality, and also reported that women's contraceptive use increased the risk of IPV. The third study found that the mother's secondary education attainment significantly reduced child mortality, while the mother's working status increased the odds of child mortality. The researchers of all included studies specified that contraceptive use significantly reduced the risk of child mortality.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in gender equality and contraception concurrently affect the reduction in child mortality. These findings provide strong support to address the research gaps and to include a gender equality approach towards maternal and child health policies.

Contraceptive use and its determinants among adolescent women in Tigray, Ethiopia: a multilevel modeling

Background Adolescent women are central for intergenerational health of human populations. Adolescent women are the most vulnerable to a range of reproductive health problems. One of the leading causes of death for adolescent women is complications from childbirth and pregnancy. Contraceptive prevents the occurrence of unwanted pregnancies and its complications, thus potentially lower the death rate for adolescent women. However, contraceptive use assumed to be affected by multilevel factors thus needs statistical modeling that account the effect of these factors. Understanding multilevel factors affecting contraceptive use among adolescent women is important for improving the access to and quality of health services. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the contraceptive use and its multilevel determinants among adolescent women in Tigray region. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Women who were 15-19 years of age residing in the selected households at the time of data collection were included in the survey. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select study units. A multivariable two-level mixed effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to assess the effect of the explanatory variables on contraceptive use. Results A total of 1,755 adolescent women were participated. Of these 12.3% were contraceptive users. Pills (40%) and intrauterine device (30%) were commonly used contraceptive methods. Educational level, schooling, marital status, age, being informed about contraceptive, health facility visit, duration of stay at their residence, having partner and hearing of contraceptive use message through media were the most important determinants for use of contraceptive among adolescent women. Study participants who were not at school currently had more likely to use contraceptive methods compared to those who were at school (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.502, 4.183). Similarly, adolescent women who had no history of health facility visit had less likely to use contraceptive methods than those have history of health facility visit (AOR=0.057; 95% CI: 0.034, 0.096). Adolescent women who heard of contraceptive through median had two times (AOR=2.103; 95% CI: 1.207, 3.664) more likely to use contraceptive methods than those not heard contraceptive through media. Conclusion and recommendation The factors affecting use of contraceptive method among adolescent women were educational level, schooling, marital status, age, being informed about contraceptive, health facility visit, duration of stay at their residence, having partner and hearing of contraceptive use message through media. This study recommends that in order to increase use of contraceptive method among adolescent women, interventions should continue like the promotion of contraceptive methods through media.

Contraceptive use among women with a history of induced abortion: findings from a national sample of sexually active, non-pregnant women in Ghana

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between a history of induced abortion and current use of contraception among reproductive-aged women in Ghana.

METHODS

The analysed data were a weighted sample of 6544 sexually active, non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds of currently using any contraception and of using a modern method of contraception, given a history of induced abortion in the period 2009-2014.

RESULTS

A history of induced abortion between 2009 and 2014 was reported by 17.4% of women (95% CI 16.0%, 18.9%); 28.7% (95% CI 26.9%, 30.6%) were currently using a method of contraception and 23.0% (95% CI 21.4%, 24.7%) were currently using a modern method of contraception. The majority (80.1%) of current contraceptive users were using a modern method. The adjusted analysis revealed no statistically significant association between a history of induced abortion and current contraceptive behaviour. Other factors were associated with modern contraceptive use.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the use of contraception among sexually active women in Ghana was found to be low. Our findings showed that women's experience of induced abortion was unlikely to influence their current use of modern contraception.

Low effective coverage of family planning and antenatal care services in Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE

To assess the quality and effective coverage (EC) of family planning (FP) and antenatal care (ANC) services in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Secondary analyses of the 2014 Ethiopia Service Provision Assessment Plus Survey and 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Women using FP and ANC.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Quality indices are created as a proportion of recommended clinical actions done in observations of ANC and FP visits. We adjust the crude coverage of ANC and of FP by the quality to estimate EC for both services.

RESULTS

The crude coverage of FP was 61% and 62% for ANC in Ethiopia in 2016. On average, quality was 35.8% during FP visits and 86% of women received <50% of the recommended clinical actions. When adjusting the crude coverage to account for the quality of service, Ethiopia's FP services EC was 22%. On average, ANC quality was 34% and 81% received <50% of the recommended ANC clinical actions. When adjusting the crude coverage by the service quality, the mean EC of ANC services was 22% in Ethiopia.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of both FP and ANC services is low in Ethiopia, with women obtaining only a fraction of the standard clinical actions during their visits. In addition, there is considerable variation in EC across Ethiopia's regions, with variation driven largely by variations in crude coverage. To improve EC, actions are needed to improve the quality of ANC and FP care.

Trends, patterns and determinants of long-acting reversible methods of contraception among women in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Method-specific contraceptive prevalence varies widely globally, as huge variations exist in the use of different types of contraception, with short-term methods being the most common methods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Evidence is scanty on the trends, patterns and determinants of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods in SSA. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.

METHODS

Using a pseudo longitudinal research design and descriptive and inferential statistics, we analysed Demographic and Health Survey data of eight countries selected on the basis of contraceptive prevalence rates across SSA. Multinomial logistic regression modelling was used to tease out the predictors of the uptake of LARC methods in the selected countries.

RESULTS

Findings exhibit a steady but slow upward trend in LARC methods across selected countries, as a marginal increase was recorded in LARC uptake over a 10-year period in many of the selected countries. Results established significant predictors of LARC methods uptake, including fertility-related characteristics, age, level of education, work status, wealth index and exposure to mass media. This study underscored the need to address various barriers to the uptake of LARC methods in SSA. It is recommended that governments at different levels undertake to cover the costs of LARC methods in order to increase access and uptake.

Factors associated with the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk Rural Hospital, Indonesia

Background: Uncontrolled population development can prompt an assortment of populace issues and can be one of the reasons for increasing maternal death rates. The utilization of contraceptives in Indonesia was progressively dominated by injectable contraceptives and pill contraceptives in 2015 (52.21% and 24.36%, respectively). However, the rate of termination of the use of short-acting contraceptives by family planning clients was higher than other methods, therefore the use of short-acting contraceptives is less efficient than long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)  for longer term spacing because it is easy to skip a treatment for economic or other reasons, which can result in unintended pregnancy. Therefore, the National Family Planning Program in Indonesia is encouraging the use of LARCs to control population growth. Pameungpeuk is a region which has the second largest population, with the highest total fertility rate in South-West Java. The proportion of active users of LARCs in Pameungpeuk is very low (10.66%). This study aimed to analyze factors associated with the utilization of LARCs among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk Rural Hospital. Methods: This study design was cross-sectional with systematic random sampling. The sample group in this study was 84 family planning clients. We performed statistical analyses using chi-square test. Results: We found significant associations between the age of women (p=0.024), the cost of contraception (p=0.022), knowledge (p=0.042), beliefs (p=0.002), skill of health workers (p=0.008) and support from health workers (p=0.014). However, education (p=0.212), family income (p=0.087), attitude (p=0.593), exposure to information on LARCs (p=0.378), support from partners (p=0.094), support from friends (p=0.414) and the support of community leaders (p=0.367) had no significant association with the utilization of LARCs. Conclusions: These findings highlight a critical need for improved education among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk rural hospital regarding the use of LARCs for both medical and elective reasons.

Factors associated with the utilization of long-acting reversible contraceptives among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk Rural Hospital, Indonesia

Background: Uncontrolled population development can prompt an assortment of populace issues and can be one of the reasons for increasing maternal death rates. The utilization of contraceptives in Indonesia was progressively dominated by injectable contraceptives and pill contraceptives in 2015 (52.21% and 24.36%, respectively). However, the rate of termination of the use of short-acting contraceptives by family planning clients was higher than other methods, therefore the use of short-acting contraceptive is not effective enough for use. In anticipating the decreased use of short-acting contraceptives while also seeking to control population growth, the National Family Planning Program in Indonesia is encouraging the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). Pameungpeuk is a region which has the second largest population, with the highest total fertility rate in South-West Java. The proportion of active users of LARCs in Pameungpeuk is also very low (10.66%). This study therefore aimed to analyze factors associated with the utilization of LARCs among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk Rural Hospital. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with systematic random sampling. The sample group in this study was 84 family planning clients. We performed statistical analyses using a chi-square test. Results: We found significant associations between the age of women (p=0.024), the cost of contraception (p=0.022), knowledge (p=0.042), beliefs (p=0.002), skill of health workers (p=0.008) and support from health workers (p=0.014). However, education (p=0.212), family income (p=0.087), attitude (p=0.593), exposure to information on LARCs (p=0.378), support from partners (p=0.094), support from friends (p=0.414) and the support of community leaders (p=0.367) had no significant association with the utilization of LARCs. Conclusions: These findings highlight a critical need for improved education among family planning clients at the Pameungpeuk rural hospital regarding the use of LARCs for both medical and elective reasons.

Immediate postpartum use of long-acting reversible contraceptives in low- and middle-income countries

Globally, data show that many women of reproductive age desire to use modern family planning methods. Many of these women do not have access to modern contraceptives, which is termed their 'unmet need' for contraception. In low- and middle-income countries where total fertility rates can be high and many women have undesired fertility, or wish to increase their inter-pregnancy intervals, access to modern contraceptives is often inadequate. The puerperium is a unique time for interventions to offer modern contraceptive methods. Having just given birth, women may desire contraceptives to prevent short-interval pregnancy, or further pregnancy, altogether. In high-, middle-, and low-income countries there has been an increased interest in the placement of long-acting reversible contraceptives at or immediately after delivery, regardless of delivery mode. These methods can provide women with highly effective contraception for years, can be manufactured at low cost, are generally well tolerated with a good safety profile, and do not require the user to remember to take them. Oral contraceptives and injectable medications require the patient to present to the clinic during a specific timeframe for follow-up care or a refill, and the clinic may not be proximate, affordable, or have the desired contraceptive in stock. This document will review the currently published literature on the use of immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives (placed within two days of delivery) in low- and middle-income countries to report on the prevalence of use and satisfaction rates, and note the lack of data on cost and economic implications. We will also explore data on how future maternal, neonatal, and infant outcomes may be influenced by increased peripartum long-term contraceptive use.

Choice of contraceptive methods by women's status: Evidence from large-scale microdata in Nepal

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate how improvement in women's status affects the choice of contraceptive methods in Nepal.

STUDY DESIGN

We regressed the choice of contraceptive methods on women's status and other controlling variables by employing large-scale microdata representing over 12,000 married women aged 15-49 years in Nepal. Years of schooling and literacy were defined as women's status variables. We estimated how educational attainment affects the choice of contraceptive methods. We also analyzed how fear of their partners affected women's choices.

RESULTS

Female sterilization was the most common choice among the contraceptive methods (25.5% of contraceptive users) in Nepal, followed by injections (19.9%). However, our estimation results showed that these options change with an improvement in women's status. An additional year of education increased the probability that women would choose condoms by 1.2 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7, 1.6) and decreased the probability of choosing female sterilization by 1.4 percentage points (95% CI: -1.9, -0.8). For the well-educated women, injections and condoms became the first and second choices (29.5% and 21.5%), respectively, while female sterilization was the third option (17.9%) for contraceptive methods. Women's fear of their partners also affected the choice of contraceptive methods. The women who feared their partners were 7.0 percentage points more likely to choose female sterilization than condoms.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in women's status (more education and less fear of their partners) changed their contraceptive behaviors by increasing the probability of choosing condoms and decreasing the probability of choosing female sterilization in Nepal.

Using contraceptives to delay first birth: a qualitative study of individual, community and health provider perceptions in southern Tanzania

Background

Young adolescents and unmarried women in low and middle income countries face challenges in accessing family planning services. One factor likely to limit contraceptive use is the attitude and opinion of local stakeholders such as community leaders and health workers. Much of the existing evidence on this topic focuses on women who have already started childbearing. Using primary qualitative data, we explored individual, community and health provider’s perceptions about using modern contraceptives to delay the first birth in a high fertility setting.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in Tandahimba district in southern Tanzania between December 2014 and March 2015. We conducted 8 focus group discussions with men and women and 25 in-depth interviews (18 with women, 4 with family planning service providers and 3 with district-level staff). Participants were purposively sampled. Data transcripts were managed and coded using Nvivo 11 software and we employed a thematic framework analysis.

Results

Three main themes emerged about using modern contraceptives to delay first birth: (1) the social and biological status of the woman (2) the type of contraceptive and (3) non-alignment among national policies for adolescents. Use of modern contraceptives to delay first birth was widely acceptable for women who were students, young, unmarried and women in unstable marriage. But long-acting reversible methods such as implants and intrauterine devices were perceived as inappropriate methods for delaying first birth, partly because of fears around delayed return to fecundity, discontinuation once woman’s marital status changes and permanently limiting future fertility. The support for use of modern contraceptives to delay a first pregnancy was not unanimous. A small number of participants from both rural and urban areas did not approve the use of contraceptive methods before the birth of a first baby at all, not even for students. There was lack of clarity and consistency on the definition of ‘young’ and that had direct implications for access, autonomy in decision-making, confidentiality and consent for young people.

Conclusions

Women who wish to delay their first birth face challenges related to restrictions by age and method imposed by stakeholders in accessing and provision of modern contraceptives. There is a need for a clearly communicated policy on minimum age and appropriate method choice for delayers of first birth.

Emerging Role of Zika Virus in Adverse Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes

The rapid spread of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas and its potential association with thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil and higher rates of Guillain-Barré syndrome meet the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, as stated by the World Health Organization in February 2016. Two months later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the current available evidence supports the existence of a causal relationship between prenatal Zika virus infection and microcephaly and other serious brain anomalies. Microcephaly can be caused by several factors, and its clinical course and prognosis are difficult to predict. Other pathogens with proven teratogenicity have been identified long before the current ZIKV epidemic. Despite the growing number of cases with maternal signs of infection and/or presence of ZIKV in tissues of affected newborns or fetuses, it is currently difficult to assess the magnitude of increase of microcephaly prevalence in Brazil, as well as the role of other factors in the development of congenital neurological conditions. Meanwhile, health agencies and medical organizations have issued cautious guidelines advising health care practitioners and expectant couples traveling to, returning from, or living in affected areas. Analogous to dengue virus (DENV) epidemics, ZIKV has the potential to become endemic in all countries infested by Aedes mosquitoes, while new mutations could impact viral replication in humans, leading to increased virulence and consequently heightened chances of viral transmission to additional naive mosquito vectors. Studies are urgently needed to answer the questions surrounding ZIKV and its role in congenital neurological conditions.

Is Household Wealth Associated With Use of Long-Acting Reversible and Permanent Methods of Contraception? A Multi-Country Analysis

In general, across the developing world, wealthier women are more likely than poorer women to use long-acting and permanent methods of contraception instead of short-acting methods. Exceptions are Bangladesh, India, and possibly Haiti.

As programs continue to expand access to family planning information, services, and products, it is critical that these efforts be undertaken with an equity lens, ensuring that regardless of socioeconomic status, all women and couples can use the method that meets their needs. This study explores the relationship between household wealth and the use of long-acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) versus short-acting methods of contraception among modern method users, using multivariate analyses based on Demographic Health Survey data from 30 developing countries conducted between 2006 and 2013. Overall, and controlling for relevant individual and household characteristics including age, number of living children, education, and urban/rural residence, we found that wealthier women were more likely than poorer women to use LAPMs instead of short-acting methods: 20 of the 30 countries showed a positive and statistically significant association between wealth and LAPM use. For 10 of those countries, however, LAPM use was significantly higher only for the top (1 or 2) wealthiest quintiles. Eight countries showed no broad pattern of association, while in 2 countries—Bangladesh and India—poorer women were more likely to use LAPMs than wealthier women. The positive association between wealth and LAPM use was found most consistently in the Latin American and the Caribbean countries in our sample. These findings can help program implementers respond better to women’s needs for modern contraception, especially in reaching women from lower- and middle-income households.

Global women's health is more than maternal health: a review of gynecology care needs in low-resource settings

Women's health care efforts in low-resource settings are often focused primarily on prenatal and obstetric care. However, women all over the world experience significant morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and urogynecologic conditions as well as gynecologic care provision including insufficient and ineffective family planning services. Health care providers with an interest in clinical care in low-resource settings should be aware of the scope of the burden of gynecologic issues and strategies in place to combat the problems. This review article discusses the important concerns both in the developing world as well as highlights similar disparities that exist in the United States by women's age, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Ultimately, this review article aims to inform and update health care providers on critical gynecologic issues in low-resource settings.