Perceptions of and barriers to family planning services in the poorest regions of Chiapas, Mexico: a qualitative study of men, women, and adolescents

Teenage pregnancy in Tambogrande, Peru: causes, consequences and cycles of violence and disadvantage

Teenage pregnancy carries adverse consequences for health and well-being. In this article, we investigate the perceived causes, consequences and cycles of violence and disadvantage associated with teenage pregnancy in Tambogrande, Peru using an applied anthropological approach. Data were drawn from a larger project investigating the relationship between water insecurity and gender-based violence in Indonesia and Peru. The analysis presented here is derived from 49 semi-structured interviews and 5 focus groups with local community members and stakeholders in Peru. Study participants highlighted two main factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in Tambogrande: machismo and religious deterrents to contraceptive use. Participants described how these factors overlapped, resulting in gendered power imbalances that increased the risk of violence, decreased educational opportunities, and reduced the economic independence of women. However, study participants stated that educational interventions targeting machismo could reduce teenage pregnancy and break the associated cycle of disadvantage. Future research will further investigate local social and gender norms to inform the design of a rights-based educational intervention, targeting upstream factors associated with teenage pregnancy in this area.

Optimal utilization of maternal health service in Indonesia: a cross-sectional study of Riskesdas 2018

OBJECTIVE

This paper analyses the optimal utilization of maternal health services in Indonesia from 2015 to 2018.

DESIGN

National cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This study takes place in 34 provinces in Indonesia.

PARTICIPANTS

The population in this study were mothers in all household members in Basic Health Research of Riskesdas 2018. The sample was all mothers who had a live birth within 5 years before data collection (1 January 2013 to July 2018) and had complete data. The number of samples analysed was 70 878.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

We developed a scoring for the optimal utilization of maternal health services as the outcome variable.

RESULTS

This analysis involved 70 787 mothers. The utilization of maternal care was not optimal. Mothers who delivered in health facilities achieved 83.3% of services. Better care is experienced more by mothers who live in urban areas. Mothers who delivered at health facilities significantly used threefold optimal care (ORa=3.15; 95% CI 3.00 to 3.30; p<0001). A statistically significant difference of optimal maternal care was found in mothers with better education (ORa=1.22; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.27; p=0.001); holding health insurance (ORa=1.25; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.30; p<0001), having more access to health facilities (ORa=1.13; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.17); p<0.001), less parity (ORa=1.16; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.20; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The optimal utilization of MHS is independent of the free services delivery, but having health insurance and less parity brought about a better optimal score for MHS. Mothers in rural areas were more protective of optimal utilization. Finally, the eastern region used more optimal health services.

Community perception of the determinants of unmet needs of family planning among married women in Buea Health District, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Introduction

in Cameroon, and more specifically in the Buea Health District of the Southwest Region, there are still a few unmet family planning needs. Many women desire to avoid getting pregnant, but do not use an effective form of birth control. A focus group discussion among married women in the Buea health district was necessary to explore the determinants of unmet family planning in order to promote access to and use of long-acting modern contraceptive methods because most research studies have only focused on the quantitative aspect.

Methods

focus groups were held in the community and in the medical facilities as part of the study's qualitative exploratory strategy. To invite the participants, invitations were sent out. A qualitative survey of 10-12 respondents was carried out by the researcher, in each Focus Group the discussed topics included factors that encourage the use of FP methods, making the switch from traditional to modern FP methods, family planning methods decision-making, accessibility of FP in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each focus group discussion lasted 1 hour 30 minutes, the perception was collected in an audiotape recorder and later transcript verbatim. The team conducted 10 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) (four of each of the topic areas). The FGD team provided participants with light refreshments.

Results

a total of 10 focus groups were conducted, reaching a total participant of 107. The N-Vivo analysis software was used to analyze the data. The following are some of the key participant perceptions that have been reported. Perceptions of family planning; for health reasons as well as social expectations and pressures, having children earlier in marriage was a wise decision. While there are certain issues with having children early in life, such as the mother's maturity and financial stability, having a kid as soon as feasible is the best option. It is best to have children within the first two years of marriage, with a three-to-five-year gap between them. Reasons for changing from traditional to modern family planning; The most significant issues with current birth control techniques (such as condoms, pills (postinor-2), implants, injectables, and IUDs) are those that affect a woman's body. Regardless of the issues, they experience with contraception, there are some benefits to utilizing it. Both modern and classic FP methods have the potential to fail. Making family planning decisions; extended families, particularly mothers-in-law, have a strong influence on family planning and size decisions, and family members assist in resolving FP issues and challenges. Participants want to know about the adverse effects of current birth control techniques, especially in the long run, and how contraceptives affect a future pregnancy. Accessibility of FP in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; participants have mixed perceptions of whether the COVID-19 context influences their accessibility to family planning.

Conclusion

the focus groups demonstrated that participants have a nuanced and sophisticated awareness of pertinent topics that significantly impact them. While cultural and social conventions surrounding family planning difficulties and decision-making continue to put pressure on women, traditional and modern family planning methods are well-known. Participants also reported a strong desire to learn more about family planning alternatives, the effects of different methods on their bodies, and to have access to a wider selection of general and specialized family planning services. Fear was produced by the backdrop of COVID-19, but women are rapidly overcoming these fears to have access to family planning.

How do conversations on social media help to explain financial barriers to family planning services for Rwandan adolescent girls within the prevailing cultural and legal context?

Purpose

Financial barriers to health services have been identified in African countries. Rwanda has a pro-poor, countrywide insurance scheme that includes a package of family planning services. However, there is lower utilisation by adolescents. This qualitative study explored conversations on social media platforms around financial barriers to family planning in Rwanda, particularly for adolescents. The study's objective was to provide direction to policy revisions to improve access to contraceptives for adolescents.

Methods

A search string was used to capture conversations on social media around financing barriers to family planning services for adolescents. Key themes were identified through analysis of the content of these messages. The themes were compared with existing literature on this topic.

Results

There is a paucity of direct postings on public sites by adolescents, reflecting social stigma related to teenage sexual activity and lack of inter-generational dialogue on this subject. Key themes identified from the conversations were: prohibitive prices for socially acceptable contraceptives in the private sector, social stigma affecting access to affordable publicly available services and backfiring of well-intentioned laws and policies.

Conclusion

The financial barriers to contraceptives by adolescents are compounded by legal frameworks, social and cultural factors and the intersection between them. The 'relationship' between the conversations captured on social media and socio-cultural and legal context is recursive. Careful consideration to both policies and interventions is required to increase access to contraceptives for adolescents.

Trends in facility-based childbirth and barriers to care at a birth center and community hospital in rural Chiapas, Mexico: A mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVE

To assess trends in childbirth at a hospital-birth center among women living in Compañeros En Salud (CES)-affiliated communities in Chiapas, Mexico and explore barriers to childbirth care. Our hypothesis was that despite interventions to support and incentivize childbirth at the hospital-birth center, the proportion of births at the hospital-birth center among women from Compañeros En Salud-affiliated communities has not significantly changed after two years. We suspected that this may be due to structural factors impacting access to care and/or perceptions of care impacting desire to deliver at the birth center.

DESIGN

This explanatory mixed-methods study included a retrospective Compañeros En Salud maternal health census review followed by quantitative surveys and semi-structured qualitative interviews.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants were women living in municipalities in the mountainous Sierra Madre region of Chiapas, Mexico who received prenatal care in one of 10 community clinics served by Compañeros En Salud. Participants were recruited if they gave birth anywhere other than the primary-level rural hospital and adjacent birth center supported by Compañeros En Salud, either at home or at other facilities.

MEASUREMENTS

We compared rates of birth at the hospital-birth center, other health facilities, and at home from 2017-2018. We conducted surveys and interviews with women who gave birth between January 2017-July 2018 at home or at facilities other than the hospital-birth center to understand perceptions of care and decision-making surrounding childbirth location.

FINDINGS

We found no significant difference in rates of overall number of women birthing at the hospital-birth center from Compañeros En Salud-affiliated communities between 2017 and 2018 (p=0.36). Analysis of 158 surveys revealed distance (30.4%), time (27.8%), and costs (25.9%) as reasons for not birthing at the hospital-birth center. From 27 interviews, negative perceptions and experiences of the hospital included low-quality and disrespectful care, low threshold for medical interventions, and harm and suffering. Partners or family members influenced most decisions about childbirth location.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

Interventions to minimize logistical barriers may not be sufficient to overcome distance and perceptions of low-quality, disrespectful care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Better understanding of complex decision-making around childbirth will guide Compañeros En Salud in developing interventions to further meet the needs and preferences of birthing women in rural Chiapas.

Assessing motivators for utilizing family planning services among youth students in higher learning institutions in Dodoma, Tanzania: Protocol for analytical cross sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Contraceptive services utilization is an important intervention in averting the impact of unwanted and unplanned pregnancy among youth which is an obstacle to the higher learning institutions youth students in attaining their educational goals. Therefore, the current protocol aims to assess the motivators for family planning service utilization among youth student in higher learning institutions in Dodoma Tanzania.

METHODS

This study will be a cross-sectional study with quantitative approach. A multistage sampling technique will be employed in studying 421 youth students aged between 18 to 24 years using structured self-administered questionnaire adopted from the previous studies. The study outcome will be family planning service utilization and independent variables will be family planning service utilization environment, knowledge factors, and perception factors. Other factors such as socio-demographic characteristics will be assessed if they are confounding factors. A factor will be considered as a confounder if it associates with both the dependent and the independent variables. Multivariable Binary logistic regression will be employed in determining the motivators for family planning utilization. The results will be presented using percentages, frequencies, and Odds Ratios and the association will be considered statistically significant at p-value <0.05.

The Zika virus: an opportunity to revisit reproductive health needs and disparities

First isolated in 1947, the Zika virus was initially connected only to limited or sporadic human infections. In late 2015, the temporal clustering of a Zika outbreak and microcephaly in newborn babies from northeastern Brazil, and the identification of a causal link between the two, led to the characterization of the congenital Zika syndrome. In the wake of the epidemic, several countries from Latin America advised women to postpone pregnancies for periods ranging from six months to two years. These recommendations initiated critical conversations about the challenges of implementing them in societies with limited access to contraception, widespread socioeconomic inequalities, and high rates of unplanned and adolescent pregnancies. The messaging targeted exclusively women, despite a high prevalence of imbalances in the relationship power, and addressed all women as a group, failing to recognize that the decision to postpone pregnancies will impact different women in different ways, depending on their age at the time. Finally, in several countries affected by the Zika epidemic, due to restrictive reproductive policies, legally terminating a pregnancy is no longer an option even at the earliest time when brain malformations as part of the congenital Zika syndrome can be detected by ultrasonography. The virus continued to circulate after 2016 in several countries. Climate change models predict an expansion of the geographical area where local Zika transmission may occur, indicating that the interface between the virus, teratogenesis, and reproductive rights is a topic of considerable interest for medicine, social sciences, and public health for years to come.

"At Least I Didn't Get Raped": A Qualitative Exploration of IPV and Reproductive Coercion among Adolescent Girls Seeking Family Planning in Mexico

Adolescent girls who report intimate partner violence (IPV) are at an increased risk of experiencing reproductive coercion (RC); both these forms of gender-based violence (GBV) are associated with unintended pregnancy. Yet little is known about these experiences among adolescent girls in Mexico. Qualitative data were collected as part of formative research for the adaptation of an evidence-based intervention to address RC and IPV in community health centers in Tijuana, Mexico. From September, 2017 to January, 2018, adolescent girls aged 16 to 20 years old (n = 20) seeking voluntary family planning (FP) services were identified and recruited from two publicly funded community health centers. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed the transcripts using inductive and deductive techniques. Participants in this sample commonly described experiencing IPV and RC (including pregnancy coercion and contraceptive sabotage), which many girls reported resulted in unintended pregnancy. Further, participants' narratives and general lack of knowledge on how to cope with IPV or RC illuminated the acceptability of offering GBV prevention intervention within FP clinics serving this population. Findings highlight an urgent need to prevent IPV and RC, and reduce risk for unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls in this region and the potential of FP clinics to serve as a safe space for intervention delivery. Findings contribute to the limited qualitative evidence from Mexico, describing adolescent girl's experiences of IPV and RC, strategies for preventing pregnancy in the context of RC, and opportunities for support from FP providers.

Ethnic inequalities in health intervention coverage among Mexican women at the individual and municipality levels

BACKGROUND

Using data from Mexico, the country with the largest indigenous population in Latin America, we describe ethnic inequalities in coverage with women's health interventions at individual and municipal levels.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018 and the Mexican Intercensal Survey 2015. We selected five outcomes: modern contraceptive use, content-qualified antenatal care (ANCq), and skilled birth attendant (SBA) for women aged 15-49 years; Pap smear test and mammogram among women aged 25-64 and 40-69 years respectively. Municipalities were classified into three groups by the percentage of indigenous population: <10%, 10% - 39%, and ≥40%. We calculated crude and adjusted coverage ratios (CR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Poisson regression.

FINDINGS

Women living in municipalities with indigenous population ≥40% were poorer, less educated, and more rural. Coverage was lower for indigenous than non-indigenous for modern contraceptive use (CR: 0·73; CI 0·65-0·83), ANCq (CR: 0·72; CI 0·62-0·83), SBA (CR: 0·83; CI 0·77-0·90) and undergoing a mammogram (CR: 0·54; CI 0·41-0·71), but not for Pap smears (CR: 0·94; CI 0·83-1·07). Coverage with the five interventions increased as the municipal proportions of indigenous population decreased, both for indigenous and non-indigenous women. Coverage gaps at municipal level tended to be wider than at individual level.

INTERPRETATION

Both indigenous and non-indigenous women living in municipalities with high proportions of indigenous people were systematically excluded from reproductive and maternal interventions. Our findings suggest that social and health interventions targeted at the individual level should be complemented by structural interventions in municipalities with high proportions of indigenous people, including strengthening health and social services.

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.

Traditional practices influencing the use of maternal health care services in Indonesia

Background

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Indonesia is still high, 305, compared to 240 deaths per 100,000 in South East Asian Region. The use of Traditional Birth Attendance (TBA) as a cascade for maternal health and delivery, suspected to be the pocket of the MMR problem. The study aimed to assess the influence of traditional practices on maternal health services in Indonesia.

Methods

We used two data sets of national surveys for this secondary data analysis. The samples included 14,798 mothers whose final delivery was between January 2005 and August 2010. The dependent variables were utilization of maternal healthcare, including receiving antenatal care (ANC≥4), attended by skilled birth attendance (SBA), and having a facility-based delivery (FBD). The independent variables were the use of traditional practices, type of family structure, and TBA density. We run a Multivariate logistic regression for the analysis by controlling all the covariates.

Results

Traditional practices and high TBA density have significantly inhibited the mother’s access to maternal health services. Mothers who completed antenatal care were 15.6% lost the cascade of facility-based delivery. The higher the TBA population, the lower cascade of the use of Maternal Health Services irrespective of the economic quintile. Mothers in villages with a high TBA density had significantly lower odds (AOR = 0.30; CI = 0.24–0.38; p<0.01) than mothers in towns with low TBA density. Moreover, mothers who lived in an extended family had positively significantly higher odds (AOR = 1.33, CI = 1.17–1.52; p<0.01) of using maternal health services.

Discussion

Not all mothers who have received proper antenatal delivered the baby in health care facilities or preferred a traditional birth attendance instead. Traditional practices influenced the ideal utilization of maternal health care. Maternal health care utilization can be improved by community empowerment through the maternal health policy to easier mothers get delivery in a health care facility.

Migration and Contraception among Mexican Women: Assessing Selection, Disruption, and Adaptation

Despite the sizeable impact of migration on childbearing, less is known about how it shapes contraceptive use undergirding fertility. We utilize binational survey data collected in 2006/7 by the Migration, Gender, and Health among Immigrant Latinos in Durham, NC study to assess how selection, disruption, and adaptation shape contraceptive use among Mexican migrant women. We address selectivity with respect to both socio-demographic and formative sexual initiation characteristics, comparing migrants to non-migrants in Mexico. We examine the disruptive effect of migration on contraception among migrant women sexually initiated in Mexico. Finally, we compare current methods between Mexican migrants and non-migrants to assess adaptation to U.S. contraceptive practices. We find migrant selectivity is less important than context in shaping immigrant women's contraceptive practices, though migrant women sexually initiated in the United States exhibit earlier and higher levels of contraceptive use than their migrant peers initiated in Mexico. Migration also disrupts contraceptive trajectories. Many migrants discontinue contraceptive use pre-migration in response to their husbands' solo migration. Partner separation also reduces contraceptive use immediately after migration. Finally, migrants show numerous signs of adaptation to the U.S. context, mainly via the adoption of oral contraception. The main obstacle for contraceptive use in Durham is lack of information about where to obtain it. Efforts to improve immigrants' reproductive health should recognize the deleterious effect of policies encouraging family separation. Healthcare must reach immigrant women soon after arrival, be attuned to pre-migration contraceptive practices, and recognize the unique vulnerabilities of women migrating at older ages.

Factors Associated with Support for Adolescent Access to Contraception Among Mexican Catholic Parents

We used a nationally representative survey of 2186 Mexican Catholic parents to assess two outcomes: support for adolescent access to modern contraception and whether adolescents unaccompanied by an adult should have access to contraceptive methods. A majority (85%) of Mexican Catholic parents support adolescent access to modern contraceptive methods, but there was less support (28%) for access to contraception unaccompanied. Further, our results show strong support (92%) for sex education in schools. Parents who believe that good Catholics can use contraception had higher odds of support for adolescent access and unaccompanied access to modern contraception. Mexican Catholic parents support adolescent access to modern contraception, but support for unaccompanied access to contraception is lower. This may reflect an interest in being involved, and not necessarily opposition to contraceptive use. Measures of Catholicism that focus on behaviors may better explain opinions about adolescent access to contraception.

Perceptions of family planning services and its key barriers among adolescents and young people in Eastern Nepal: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

Family planning methods are used to promote safer sexual practices, reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion, and control population. Young people aged 15-24 years belong to a key reproductive age group. However, little is known about their engagement with the family planning services in Nepal. Our study aimed to identify the perceptions of and barriers to the use of family planning among youth in Nepal.

METHODS

A qualitative explorative study was done among adolescents and young people aged 15-24 years from the Hattimuda village in eastern Nepal. Six focus group discussions and 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with both male and female participants in the community using a maximum variation sampling method. Data were analyzed using a thematic framework approach.

RESULTS

Many individuals were aware that family planning measures postpone pregnancy. However, some young participants were not fully aware of the available family planning services. Some married couples who preferred 'birth spacing' received negative judgments from their family members for not starting a family. The perceived barriers to the use of family planning included lack of knowledge about family planning use, fear of side effects of modern family planning methods, lack of access/affordability due to familial and religious beliefs/myths/misconceptions. On an individual level, some couples' timid nature also negatively influenced the uptake of family planning measures.

CONCLUSION

Women predominantly take the responsibility for using family planning measures in male-dominated decision-making societies. Moreover, young men feel that the current family planning programs have very little space for men to engage even if they were willing to participate. Communication in the community and in between the couples seem to be influenced by the presence of strong societal and cultural norms and practices. These practices seem to affect family planning related teaching at schools as well. This research shows that both young men and women are keen on getting involved with initiatives and campaigns for supporting local governments in strengthening the family planning programs in Nepal.

Informed Choice of Contraceptive Methods among Women in Ethiopia: Further Analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey

BACKGROUND

Delivering modern contraceptive methods only may not provide much insight into the quality of family-planning services. Informed choice emphasizes that clients select the method that best satisfies their needs by informing them about all available contraceptive methods, side effects of the methods, and how to deal with the side effects if experienced. This study investigated informed choice regarding contraceptives and associated factors among women in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. Information on informed choice was extracted from the individual women's data. Subjects comprised 3,511 (weighted) reproductive-age women aged 15-49 years using selected contraceptive methods. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with informed of contraceptive choice among women in Ethiopia. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Only 36.2% of the participants were informed on contraceptive methods. Increased age, watching television less than once per week, and visiting health facilities in the last 12 months were associated with higher odds of being informed on contraceptive methods. Being affiliated with other religious groups, primary education only, having a husband employed in agriculture, being unskilled, with an unknown job, living in Amhara and Oromia regions, watching television at least once a week, and receiving the service from private clinics and pharmacies were associated with lower odds of being informed on contraceptive methods.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of reproductive-age women in Ethiopia were inadequately informed about side effects or other methods. This varied by socio-demographic factors, sources of contraception, method, and frequency of visiting health institutions. This study suggests that interventions that increase family-planning counseling to the level that clients understand the methods are needed. Private health facilities also need to focus on delivering essential messages about methods they provide and assure women's rights and choices.

The impacts of contraceptive stock-outs on users, providers, and facilities: A systematic literature review

Contraceptive stock-outs are a world-wide problem, yet published research on the impacts of contraceptive stock-outs have not been comprehensively reviewed and synthesised. This systematic review highlights findings about the impacts of contraceptive stock-outs on users, providers, and facilities and identifies topics that should be explored to ensure everyone can access their preferred method of contraception. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Popline, and JSTOR for studies addressing the impacts of contraceptive stock-outs. Of 435 studies, 25 publications addressed the impacts of contraceptive stock-outs. Only two articles focused solely on contraceptive stock-outs; the remaining studies examined stock-outs alongside other factors that may influence contraceptive service provision. Studies discussed how stock-outs limited individuals' ability to use their preferred contraceptive method, influenced where contraceptive methods were obtained and how much they cost, and limited providers' and facilities' abilities to provide contraceptive care. Comparing the impacts of contraceptive stock-outs across studies was challenging, as reliability of stock was sometimes not distinguished from overall method availability, and studies used variable methods to measure stock-outs. Evidence presented in this review can inform efforts to ensure that preferred contraceptive methods are consistently available and accessible to all.

Socioeconomic inequalities in women's access to health care: has Ecuadorian health reform been successful?

BACKGROUND

Over the last 12 years, Ecuador has implemented comprehensive health sector reform to ensure equitable access to health care services according to need. While there have been important achievements in terms of health care coverage, the effects of these reforms on socioeconomic inequalities in health care have not been analysed. The present study assesses whether the health care reforms implemented in the decade between 2007 and 2017 have contributed to reducing the socioeconomic inequalities in women's health care access.

METHODS

The present study was based on two waves (2006 and 2014) of the Living Standards Measurement Survey conducted in Ecuador. Data from women of reproductive age (15 to 49 years) were analysed to evaluate health care coverage across three indicators: skilled birth attendance, cervical cancer screening, and the use of modern contraceptives. Absolute risk differences were calculated between the heath care indicators and the socioeconomic variables using binomial regression analysis for each time period. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) was also calculated for each socioeconomic variable and period. A multiplicative interaction term between the socioeconomic variables and period was included to assess the changes in socioeconomic inequalities in health care over time.

RESULTS

Access to health care increased in the three studied outcomes during the health sector reform. Significant reductions in inequality in skilled birth attendance were observed in all socioeconomic variables except in the occupational class. Cervical cancer screening inequalities increased according to education and occupation, but decreased by wealth. Only a poorer education was observed for modern contraceptive use.

CONCLUSIONS

While most socioeconomic inequalities in skilled birth attendance decreased during the reform period, this was not the case for inequalities in cervical cancer screening or the use of modern contraceptives. Further studies are needed to address the social determinants of these health inequalities.

Access to primary health care family planning services and contraceptive use in disadvantaged women: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the gender-related determinants and organisational structure of primary health care that shape contraceptive use among disadvantaged women living in a developing Islamic country where family planning services are affected by health care reforms.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted in three disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the metropolitan district of Bornova, Izmir. A purposive sampling method with maximum diversity was used to obtain a study sample of 43 women. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using a coding paradigm of grounded theory.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the analysis, namely, factors affecting participants' number of children, experiences with using contraceptive methods, and use of family planning services at family health centres. Despite a desire to limit their number of children and a positive view of contraception, women in the study faced gender-related barriers to accessing family planning services. Their statements indicate significant deficiencies in terms of provision of contraception and family planning consultations at family health centres.

CONCLUSION

For disadvantaged women living in conservative areas, family planning is a fragile exercise. Gender-sensitive primary care services are essential to ensure access to everyone in the community.

The Global Gag Rule: The death trap for comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare and way to overcome the US gag rule

The United States of America (USA) is one of the largest bilateral donors in the field of global health assistance. There are beneficiaries in 70 countries around the world. In 2015, the USA released US$638 million for the improvement of global health status by promoting family planning services. Unfortunately, in 2017, Trump administration reinstated Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy prevents non-US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving US health financial assistance if they have any relationship with abortion-related services. This restriction pushed millions of lives into great danger due to the lack of comprehensive family planning services, especially lack of abortion-related services. This article has attempted to let the readers know about the impacts of GGR around the world and how global leaders are trying to overcome the harmful effects of this rule. Finally, it proposes some solutions to the impacts of the extension of Mexico City Policy.

Multilevel analysis of factors associated with unmet need for family planning among Malawian women

Background

Malawi has a high fertility rate which is also characterized by a relatively high prevalence of unmet need for contraception. However, little is known about the influence of individual- and community- level characteristics on unmet need in Malawi. This study examined the individual- and community- level factors associated with unmet need for family planning (FP) among Malawian women.

Methods

Data from the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey were used to analyze 15, 931 women. The association between individual- and community- level factors and unmet need was assessed using multilevel binary logistic regression models.

Results

The prevalence of total unmet need was 21.0%. Women aged ≥35 years were more likely to have total unmet need [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.35] compared with those aged 15–24 years. Women who were married [aOR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.35–0.48], and those employed [aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.71–0.85] were associated with less likelihood of having total unmet need compared with unmarried, and unemployed women, respectively. At community-level, women from communities with a high percentage of women from rich households [aOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.67–0.96], and those from communities with a middle and high percentage of educated women [aOR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76–0.96 and aOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.70–0.93, respectively] were less likely to have total unmet need for FP compared with those from communities with low percentages of rich and educated women, respectively. The proportional change in variance showed that about 36.0% of total variations in the odds of unmet need across the communities were explained by both individual- and community-level factors. Moreover, the intraclass correlation showed that about 3.0% of the total variation remained unexplained even after controlling for both individual- and community-level factors.

Conclusion

Both individual- and community- level factors influenced unmet need for FP in Malawi. Public health practitioners should conduct community profiling and consider individual and community factors when designing FP programs.

Mexico's Prospera Program and Indigenous Women's Reproductive Rights

In this study, I examine Indigenous women's autonomy and reproductive rights within Mexico's Prospera program. Prospera gave women living in poverty bimonthly cash stipends for complying with requirements argued to improve the health and welfare of their families, including attending regular appointments at the clinic. Although hailed as successful, Mexico's new administration recently eliminated the health care component, citing various abuses. Some policy experts argue that these claims are unfounded and have questioned how Mexico will now address the health care needs of marginalized populations. Drawing on more than 2 years of fieldwork (2012-2014) in a Mayan community in Chiapas, I present evidence of abusive practices related to reproductive health care based on direct observations and audio-recordings of clinical interactions and program operations in IMSS-Prospera. Furthermore, I show how the reproductive habitus that supported these actions was shaped by long-standing institutional habits and sociocultural factors that need to be directly addressed in present reforms.

Gender-Informed Family Planning Perceptions and Decision-Making in Rural Chiapas, Mexico: A Mixed-Methods Study

Compared to other Mexican states, Chiapas possessed the lowest rate of contraception use among women 15−49 years old (44.6%) in 2018. This convergent mixed-methods study assessed family planning use, perceptions, and decision-making processes among women and men in rural communities where Compañeros En Salud (CES) works in Chiapas, Mexico. We conducted surveys of reproductive-aged women and semi-structured interviews with reproductive-aged women, men, and physicians completing their social-service year in CES communities from 2016 to 2017. Of the 625 survey respondents, 368 (58.9%) reported using contraception. The most common methods were female sterilization (27.7%), bimonthly injection (10.9%), and the implant (10.9%). Interviews were completed with 27 women, 24 men, and 5 physicians and analyzed through an inductive approach. Common reasons for contraception use were preventing pregnancy, lack of resources for additional children, and birth spacing. Adverse effects, influence of male partners, and perceived lack of need emerged as reasons for non-use. Male partners often made the final decision about contraceptive use, while women often chose what method. Physicians reported adverse effects, misconceptions about methods, and lack of women's autonomy as barriers to contraception use. Given misconceptions about contraception methods and the dominant role of men in contraception decision-making, our study illustrates the importance of effective counseling and equitable gender dynamics for family planning programming in rural Chiapas.

Do modern family planning methods impact women's quality of life? Jordanian women's perspective

Background

Although Jordan has made progress in meeting Family Planning (FP) needs in last decades, recently the use of FP methods has declined significantly. Women’s personal experiences, knowledge, and perceptions of how a FP method might impact their quality of life (QoL) can influence FP decisions. However, a lack of comprehensive understanding of the impact of modern FP methods on women’s QoL continues to exist among Jordanian couples. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the use of common modern FP methods and QoL among Jordanian women.

Methods

Using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire along with other questions, non-pregnant women of reproductive age were interviewed at their homes through face-to-face structured interviews. Women who visited the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of King Abdullah University Hospital for contraceptive advice and follow-up consultations were also included.

Results

A total of 548 women aged between 18 and 49 participated in the study. Based on the WHOQOL-BREF scale, the overall mean (SD) scores of the four domains were found to be average. Our findings show that women who used Intra Uterine Devices (IUDs) and women whose husbands used condoms had better QoL in the four domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment) than those who used Oral Contraceptives (OCs). Women who used implant and injectable hormonal contraceptives had better QoL in terms of the physical health and social relationships domains. In contrast, women who had undergone permanent sterilization had lower QoL scores in all of the four domains. Further analysis revealed that women who had undergone tubal sterilization were less satisfied overall and more likely to experience side effects than women who used OCs.

Conclusion

The choice to use contraceptives and decide freely whether and when to have children is regarded as a fundamental reproductive health right and is strongly linked to women’s health and QoL. Women who use OCs and women who have undergone permanent sterilization are likely to have lower QoL than women who use IUDs or implant and injectable hormones and those whose husbands use condoms.

Reproductive autonomy and contraceptive use among women in Hanoi, Vietnam

Objective

Reproductive autonomy (i.e., power to control and decide about contraceptive use, pregnancy and childbearing) could determine a woman’s capacity to use contraception. Although the Reproductive Autonomy Scale was developed to quantitatively assess women’s reproductive autonomy, it has not been validated in any population outside the United States.

Study design

We conducted a cross-sectional study of reproductive-age, sexually active women in Hanoi, Vietnam, who did not desire pregnancy. We administered a questionnaire containing the Reproductive Autonomy Scale and calculated composite scores of the measure’s three subscales: (1) decision-making power, (2) freedom from coercion and (3) communication ability. To assess internal consistency, we calculated Cronbach’s alpha score for each subscale. We used logistic regression to evaluate differences in subscale scores between women who did and did not engage in unprotected sex in the past month.

Results

Analysis is based on 500 participants; of these women, 17% (n = 85) engaged in unprotected sex in the past month. Subscales had moderate to high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.65–0.87). Mean subscale scores did not vary between women who did and did not engage in recent unprotected sex. Unprotected sex in the past month was not associated with decision-making power (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–1.20), freedom from coercion (aOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.52–1.67) or communication ability (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.92–3.09).

Conclusion

Findings highlight the need to develop and validate a new measure for reproductive autonomy for populations outside the United States or to adapt the existing measure for these contexts.