Perceptions of and barriers to uptake of contraceptives in plantation farming communities of Cross River State, Nigeria: A qualitative inquiry.

The contraceptive use in Nigeria is relatively low, indicative of the non-adoption of contraceptives by people of reproductive age to curtail the increasing fertility rate with its attendant consequences on the family. The non-use is attributed to numerous factors, including perceptions of and attendant barriers to the uptake of contraceptives. This study was aimed at assessing the perception of and barriers to the uptake of contraceptives among residents of plantation farming communities in Cross River State, Nigeria. It was a multi-sited qualitative descriptive study conducted in three Local Government Areas (Ikom, Yakurr, and Akamkpa) in Cross River State, Nigeria between March and April 2022. Nine Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and twelve key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with respondents from three plantation farming communities. The FGDs were conducted on sexually active unmarried girls, married women within the reproductive age, and married men with spouses of reproductive age. The KIIs were conducted on health care providers, village heads, youth leaders, and women leaders. The generated data were thematically analyzed using both deductive and inductive analytical approaches. Married women were deemed eligible to use contraceptives, which are viewed as a method for preventing pregnancy. The information supplied by healthcare professionals was deemed insufficient for women to make informed decisions. Fear of side effects, dysfunctional health facilities, frequent stock outs, and spousal opposition were the most significant barriers to contraceptive use. Family planning programs should be targeted more at residents of rural areas to increase awareness, dispel misconceptions, and promote contraceptive use.

L'utilisation de contraceptifs au Nigéria est relativement faible, ce qui indique que les personnes en âge de procréer ne les adoptent pas pour freiner l'augmentation du taux de fécondité et ses conséquences sur la famille. La non-utilisation est attribuée à de nombreux facteurs, notamment les perceptions et les obstacles à l'adoption des contraceptifs. Cette étude visait à évaluer la perception et les obstacles à l'adoption des contraceptifs parmi les résidents des communautés agricoles des plantations de l'État de Cross River, au Nigeria. Il s'agissait d'une étude descriptive qualitative multisites menée dans trois zones de gouvernement local (Ikom, Yakurr et Akamkpa) dans l'État de Cross River, au Nigeria, entre mars et avril 2022. Neuf discussions de groupe (FGD) et douze entretiens avec des informateurs clés (KII). ont été menées auprès de répondants de trois communautés agricoles de plantations. Les groupes de discussion ont été menés auprès de filles célibataires sexuellement actives, de femmes mariées en âge de procréer et d'hommes mariés ayant des épouses en âge de procréer. Les KII ont été menées auprès des prestataires de soins de santé, des chefs de village, des jeunes leaders et des femmes leaders. Les données générées ont été analysées thématiquement en utilisant des approches analytiques déductives et inductives. Les femmes mariées étaient considérées comme éligibles à l'utilisation de contraceptifs, considérés comme une méthode permettant de prévenir une grossesse. Les informations fournies par les professionnels de santé ont été jugées insuffisantes pour permettre aux femmes de prendre des décisions éclairées. La peur des effets secondaires, le dysfonctionnement des établissements de santé, les ruptures de stock fréquentes et l'opposition des conjoints étaient les obstacles les plus importants à l'utilisation des contraceptifs. Les programmes de planification familiale devraient cibler davantage les résidents des zones rurales afin de les sensibiliser, de dissiper les idées fausses et de promouvoir l'utilisation des contraceptifs.

Factors influencing contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in plantation farming communities in South-South Nigeria.

The use of contraceptives by women of reproductive age remains one of the cost-effective ways of reducing maternal, infant, and child mortality and achieving a decline in the high fertility rate in the country. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between the location of residence, occupation, and education level and the current use of contraceptives among women of reproductive age resident in plantation farming communities in South-south Nigeria. The test of associations between the dependent and independent variables and covariates was conducted using the Likelihood ratio Chi-square as appropriate. Multiple logistic regressions using the best-fit option of covariate selection were done with the use of contraceptives as the dependent variable. Of the 609 participants recruited, 189 (31.03%) were currently using a contraceptive. Women with secondary education were less likely to use contraceptives compared to the none educated [AOR=0.07; CL: 0.013-0.39]. Location and age were also significant predictors of the use of contraceptives by women in plantation farming communities in Nigeria. Deliberate and purposeful targeting of women and girls of reproductive age in plantation farming communities should be prioritized in the universal access to contraceptive use.

COVID-19 self-testing in Nigeria: Stakeholders' opinions and perspectives on its value for case detection.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 testing coverage is limited in Nigeria. Access to rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection self-testing kits may help improve the detection of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic cases and increase the country's low rate of SARS-CoV-2 testing. Before implementing self-testing in Nigeria, assessing the population's perceptions regarding this approach is imperative. In mid-2021, an exploratory cross-sectional qualitative research was conducted to investigate stakeholders' values and preferences for SARS-CoV-2 self-testing in Nigeria. METHODS: In-person and online semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with healthcare workers, representatives of civil society, and potential implementors of self-testing delivery programs were used to explore values and perceptions around access to conventional provider-initiated COVID-19 testing. Topics included the public's values in relation to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the safe and effective use of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, and likely actions upon receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 self-test result. A thematic analysis approach was applied. RESULTS: The 58 informants (29 female) reported that Nigeria has limited availability of conventional provider-delivered SARS-CoV-2 testing. While just a few informants were familiar with SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, they generally supported using self-testing as an approach that they felt could assist with early case detection and improve access to testing. Concerns relating to the use of self-testing mainly related to the ability of low-literate individuals to use and interpret the self-tests, the affordability of self-tests, equity of access, and the availability of healthcare system support for those who self-test positive. CONCLUSION: Although the Nigerian public perceive multiple benefits associated with access to SARS-CoV-2 self-testing, the perceived inefficiency of the national health service delivery system may limit the access of users of the kits to psychosocial and clinical support. Nevertheless, in Nigeria, where COVID-19 vaccine coverage is low and the risk of further waves of COVID-19 is high, self-testing may assist in the prompt detection of cases and contribute to halting the spread of the virus.