Factors that affect the discontinuation of family planning methods in Myanmar: analysis of the 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey

Contraceptive method switching and discontinuation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar: findings from a longitudinal cohort study

The objective of this paper was to document contraceptive dynamics and associated correlates of contraceptive method switching and discontinuation in Myanmar during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a secondary analysis of panel data collected between August 2020 and March 2021 among married women of reproductive age of households registered for a strategic purchasing project in Yangon. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests of association and adjusted log-Poisson models with generalised estimating equations to examine relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. Among the study sample, 28% of women reported method switching and 20% method discontinuation at least once during the study period. Difficulties accessing resupply/removal/insertion of contraception due to COVID-19 and method type at baseline were identified as correlates of method switching and discontinuation. Women who reported difficulty obtaining their method due to COVID-19 had an increased risk of method switching (RRadj: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.27, 2.71). Women who reported injectables as their initial contraceptive method at baseline had an increased risk of method switching (RRadj:1.71, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.76) and method discontinuation (RRadj: 2.16, 95%CI: 1.16, 4.02) compared to non-injectable users. As Myanmar evaluates its public health response to COVID-19, the country should consider innovative service delivery models that allow women to have sustained access to their method of choice during a health emergency. (211).

Prevalence of discontinuation of contraceptives due to failure among women aged 14 to 49 years in Uganda: a nation wide cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Sustained motivation is essential for effective use of contraceptive methods by women in low- and middle-income countries as many women are likely to abandon contraceptives, especially when they continually experience episodes of failure. We aimed to determine the prevalence of discontinuation of contraceptives due to failure and its associated factors among Ugandan women aged 14-49 years.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was conducted using the UDHS 2016 data. Multi stage stratified sampling was used to select participants. All eligible women aged 15 to 49 years at the time of the survey were enrolled. Bivariable and Multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors associated with contraceptive failure. All analysis were done using Stata version 13. Contraceptive failure (getting pregnant while on contraceptives) within five years preceding the survey was the dependent variable.

RESULTS

A total of 9061 women were included in the study. The overall prevalence of contraceptive failure was 5.6% [n = 506, 95% CI: 5.1-6.1] and was higher (6.2%) among women aged 20-29 years or had completed secondary education (6.1%). Having informed choice on contraceptives [aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49 - 0.72] and older age [aOR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24-0.89] were associated with lower odds of contraceptive failure.

CONCLUSION

The burden of contraceptive failure among women of reproductive age in Uganda is substantial and significantly varied by women's age, level of education, exposure to the internet, mass media, and informed choice. These findings highlight the need for improved counseling services and contraceptive quality to help women and couples use methods correctly and consistently.

Pooled prevalence and determinants of informed choice of contraceptive methods among reproductive age women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis

Background

Despite the commitments of the government to minimize unintended pregnancy, abortion, and unmet need for contraceptives, as per our search of the literature, there is no study on the pooled prevalence and determinants of informed choice of contraceptive methods in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence and determinants of informed choice of contraceptive methods among reproductive-aged women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

This study was based on the 32 Sub-Saharan African countries Demographic and Health Survey data. A total weighted sample of 65,487 women aged 15-49 was included in the study. The data were cleaned, weighted, and analyzed using STATA Version 14 software. Multilevel logistic regression modeling was used to identify determinants of an informed choice of contraceptive methods. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and p-value < 0.05 were used to declare the significant determinants.

Result

The pooled prevalence of informed choice of contraceptive methods among reproductive age (15-49) women in sub-Saharan Africa was 49.47% (95%CI: 44.33, 54.62%) with I ² =99.5%, and variations in range of 19.42 to 78.42%. Women aged 25-34 years old (AOR = 1.26 95%CI: 1.21, 1.32) and 35-49 years (AOR = 1.33 95%CI: 1.27, 1.40), attending primary education (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.32), secondary education (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.43, 1.58) and higher education (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.84, 2.19), having media exposure (AOR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.16), utilizing IUD (AOR = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.79, 2.19), injectable (AOR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.23, 1.36) and implants (AOR = 1.70, 95%CI: 1.61, 1.79), survey year 2016-2020 (AOR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.31, 1.44), women from lower middle (AOR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.31) and upper middle income level countries (AOR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.23, 1.53) were associated with increased odds of informed choice of contraceptive methods. While, women who accessed contraceptives from private clinics (AOR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.61, 0.67), pharmacies (AOR = 0.37, 95%CI: 0.35, 0.40), and others (AOR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.43, 0.52), women in East Africa (AOR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.73), Central Africa (AOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.57), and South Africa (AOR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.40) were associated with decreased odds of informed choice of contraceptive methods.

Conclusion

The pooled prevalence of informed choice of contraceptive methods in Sub-Saharan Africa is low with high disparities among the countries. Enhancing maternal education and media exposure, providing greater concern for the source of contraceptive methods, and strengthening the economic status of the country are recommended to enhance informed choice of contraceptive methods.

Contraceptive discontinuation among women of reproductive age in Papua New Guinea

Background

Papua New Guinea has one of the lowest contraceptive prevalence rates among women of reproductive age in the Western Pacific Region and this makes contraceptive discontinuation in this country a critical public health issue worth studying. This study sought to assess the factors associated with contraceptive discontinuation among women of reproductive age in Papua New Guinea.

Methods

The data used for the analysis were obtained from the Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey which was conducted in 2016–2018. The outcome variable for this study was contraceptive discontinuation among women of reproductive age. Crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using binary logistic regression.

Results

About 33.26% of the women discontinued injectables, 19.15% discontinued pills and 3.77% discontinued other contraception methods. Women aged 20–24 [aOR = 2.12, CI = [= [1.04,4.31] through to those aged 30–34 [aOR = 1.98, CI = 1.03,3.79] had higher odds to discontinue contraceptive usage compared to those aged 45–49. Women with no information on choice of contraception [aOR = 2.85, CI = 2.31,3.51], those with two or more births in the last five years [aOR = 2.35, CI = 1.65,3.35] and those living in the Highland region [aOR = 1.71, CI = 1.28,2.29] were more likely to discontinue contraceptive usage compared with those with information on contraceptive choices, those with no births and those living in the Island region respectively. However, women in the rural areas [aOR = 0.78, CI = 0.61,0.99], women using LARC [aOR = 0.10, CI = 0.06,0.15], injectables [aOR = 0.43, CI = 0.30,0.63] and other modern contraception methods including condom [aOR = 0.22, CI = 0.15,0.34] were less likely to discontinue contraceptive usage.

Conclusion

A nationwide mass education on the benefits of contraception is recommended for the Papua New Guinea National Department of Health to tackle the key findings of this study which were high contraceptive discontinuation prevalence with lack of information on choice, disproportionately high contraceptive discontinuation rate in the Highland Region and the desire to give birth to more than two children as some factors associated with contraceptive discontinuation in Papua New Guinea.

Egypt Family Planning Method Mix Indicates Shifting toward Hormonal Contraceptives

BACKGROUND: The study is of practical importance for policy makers and family planning (FP) program managers as the profile of FP method-mix with a shift from a mechanical method as intrauterine devices (IUD) to hormonal methods such as oral contraceptives (OCs) and injectables predicts a critical situation for maternal and child health and reflects shortcomings in FP service delivery program. AIM: The purpose of the current study was to identify reasons for the progressive shift from IUD to OCs in Egypt. METHODS: The study is an-operations research conducted at four levels of the Ministry of Health and Population/FP (MOHP/FP) service delivery: Central (headquarter, HQ), governorate, district, and service delivery points. It included five of MOHP/United Nations Fund for Population Activities-Contraceptive Security Project governorates that represent, urban governorates, Lower Egypt, and Upper Egypt. Both qualitative data in-depth interviews with MOHP/HQ staff, Two Focus Group Discussions with FP Health Directorates staff and nurses in the five governorates, and quantitative data through a self-administered questionnaire for 607 service providers (SP). RESULTS: There was a consensus on the actual shift from IUD to OCs use. Reasons were the absence of incentives for healthcare providers for IUD insertion services (64%) and improper training of physicians (45%), and the availability of OCs all time. CONCLUSION: The three articulating issues that lead to shifting from IUD to OCs are: Unsatisfactory training and incentive systems for SPs and the clients’ choice of OCs for independent use/autonomy, and availability of OCs all the times at a reasonable cost in both the public and private sectors.

Utilization of modern contraceptive methods and its determinants among youth in Myanmar: Analysis of Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015-2016)

Reproductive health service is crucial for youth to reduce maternal and child mortality. However, many young women face unintended pregnancies and pregnancy-related complications due to insufficient knowledge of contraceptive methods and low contraceptive utilization. This study aims to assess the modern contraceptive prevalence rates among youth and identify factors influencing modern contraceptive utilization among youth. We used Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015-2016) data. This study included 1,423 men and 3,677 women aged 15-24 years from all states and regions of Myanmar. We used multivariable binary logistic regression analysis and reported the results using adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Data analysis was done by STATA software (version 15.1). Ever-married youth used mainly injectable contraception, followed by oral contraceptive pills. Never-married male youth mainly used oral contraceptive pills; however, almost all never-married female youth did not use contraception. The modern contraceptive prevalence rates were 14.9% among total youth, 10% among males, 16.8% among females, 1.5% among never-married males, 44.7% among ever-married males, and 54% among ever-married female youth. The knowledge on modern contraceptive methods favored the utilization. Sexually active youth utilized more contraception than sexually inactive youth. We also found geographical variation and low utilization among rural youth. The desire for more children was also a significant predictor of contraceptive utilization among married youth. The utilization of modern contraception was low among Myanmar youth. Reproductive health program needs to be emphasized on the youth population especially in the area with low utilization to have equitable access to quality reproductive health services. Moreover, the revitalization of Youth Information Corner and youth-friendly reproductive health education programs should be implemented to increase reproductive health knowledge and prevent unsafe sex, unintended pregnancies, and abortions which might help in reducing maternal and child mortality. We warranted conducting mixed method studies to explore the barriers and challenges of contraceptive utilization and male involvement in the choice of contraception among youth.