A continuum of individual-level factors that influence modern contraceptive uptake and use: perspectives from community members and healthcare providers in Durban, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: South Africa faces numerous sexual and reproductive health challenges that can be mitigated with contraceptive use. Contraceptive use is defined and measured as use, non-use, or discontinued use. Research has shown that there are expanded definitions of use beyond these categories. Identifying such categories may assist in a better understanding of factors that influence contraceptive use. SETTING AND METHODOLOGY: This qualitative study was conducted in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The aim was to explore the factors influencing the uptake and use of modern contraception. One hundred and twenty-seven participants were enrolled in this study. One hundred and three of those were community members, and twenty-five were healthcare providers. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted to gather the data. Data analysis was facilitated using NVivo 10 software. RESULTS: The data show that numerous factors influence contraceptive uptake and use. From these factors, a continuum of use that captures a variety of states of use emerged. Five different states of use were uncovered: no-use, vulnerable use, compelled use, conditional use, and autonomous use. The development of the model illustrates the complexity of contraceptive needs and that it extends beyond definitions found in policies and large-scale surveys. Expanding conceptions of use can aid in developing counselling and information support tools that can improve the uptake and continued use of modern contraception.

Access to public sector family planning services and modern contraceptive methods in South Africa: A qualitative evaluation from community and health care provider perspectives.

Progress has been made to improve access to family planning services and contraceptive methods, yet many women still struggle to access contraception, increasing their risk for unintended pregnancy. This is also true for South Africa, where over fifty per cent of pregnancies are reported as unintended, even though contraception is freely available. There is also stagnation in the fertility rate indicators and contraceptive use data, indicating that there may be challenges to accessing contraception. This paper explores the evaluation of access to contraception from community and health care provider perspectives. This qualitative study explored factors affecting the uptake and use of contraception through focus group discussions (n = 14), in-depth interviews (n = 8), and drawings. Participants included male and female community members (n = 103) between 15 and 49 years of age, health care providers (n = 16), and key stakeholder informants (n = 8), with a total number of 127 participants. Thematic content analysis was used to explore the data using NVivo 10. Emergent themes were elucidated and thematically categorised. The results were categorised according to a priori access components. Overall, the results showed that the greatest obstacle to accessing contraception was the accommodation component. This included the effects of integrated care, long waiting times, and limited operational hours-all of which contributed to the discontinuation of contraception. Community members reported being satisfied with the accessibility and affordability components but less satisfied with the availability of trained providers and a variety of contraceptive methods. The accessibility and affordability themes also revealed the important role that individual agency and choice in service provider plays in accessing contraception. Data from the illustrations showed that adolescent males experienced the most geographic barriers. This study illustrated the importance of examining access as a holistic concept and to assess each component's influence on contraceptive uptake and use.

Quality of care in public sector family planning services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a qualitative evaluation from community and health care provider perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Quality of care is a multidimensional concept that forms an integral part of the uptake and use of modern contraceptive methods. Satisfaction with services is a significant factor in the continued use of services. While much is known about quality of care in the general public health care service, little is known about family planning specific quality of care in South Africa. This paper aims to fill the gap in the research by using the Bruce-Jain family planning quality of care framework. METHODS: This formative qualitative study was conducted in South Africa, Zambia, and Kenya to explore the uptake of family planning and contraception. The results presented in this paper are from the South African data. Fourteen focus group discussions, twelve with community members and two with health care providers, were conducted along with eight in-depth interviews with key informants. Thematic content analysis using the Bruce-Jain Quality of Care framework was conducted to analyse this data using NVIVO 10. RESULTS: Family planning quality of care was defined by participants as the quality of contraceptive methods, attitudes of health care providers, and outcomes of contraceptive use. The data showed that women have limited autonomy in their choice to either use contraception or the method that they might prefer. Important elements that relate to quality of care were identified and described by participants and grouped according to the structural or process components of the framework. Structure-related sub-themes identified included the lack of technically trained providers; integration of services that contributed to long waiting times and mixing of a variety of clients; and poor infrastructure. Sub-themes raised under the process category included poor interpersonal relations; lack of counselling/information exchange, fear; and time constraints. Neither providers nor users discussed follow up mechanisms which is a key aspect to ensure continuity of contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: Using a qualitative methodology and applying the Bruce-Jain Quality of Care framework provided key insights into perceptions and challenges about family planning quality of care. Identifying which components are specific to family planning is important for improving contraceptive outcomes. In particular, autonomy in user choice of contraceptive method, integration of services, and the acceptability of overall family planning care was raised as areas of concern.

Male partner influence on family planning and contraceptive use: perspectives from community members and healthcare providers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: South Africa faces numerous reproductive challenges that include high rates of unplanned and adolescent pregnancies. The uptake and utilization of family planning services and modern contraception methods depend on numerous factors. The male partner plays a key role in reproductive health but data on this topic are outdated or have a predominant HIV prevention focus. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of male partners on family planning and contraceptive (FP/C) uptake and use within the contemporary South African setting, and to identify further areas of exploration. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted in a community and healthcare provision setting in the eThekwini District in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Data were collected from twelve community-based focus group discussions (n = 103), two healthcare providers focus group discussions (n = 16), and eight key informant individual in-depth interviews. Following a constructionist paradigm and using the health utilization behaviour model, data were analysed using thematic analysis, allowing a robust and holistic exploration of the data. RESULTS: The data from this study revealed the complex and evolving role that male partners play in FP/C uptake and use within this setting. Key themes from the data elucidated the dual nature of male involvement in FP/C use. Culturally influenced gender dynamics and adequate understanding of FP/C information were highlighted as key factors that influenced male attitudes and perceptions about contraceptive use, whether positively or negatively. Male opposition was attributed to limited understanding; misunderstandings about side-effects; male dominance in relationships; and physical abuse. These factors contributed to covert or discontinued use by female partners. Pathways identified through which male partners positively influenced FP/C uptake and access include: social support, adequate information, and shared responsibility. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the role that male partners play in FP/C uptake and use is important in preventing unintended pregnancies and improving family planning policy and service delivery programmes. By identifying the barriers that male partners present, appropriate strategies can be implemented. Equally important is identifying how male partners facilitate and promote adherence and use, and how these positive strategies can be incorporated into policy to improve the uptake and use of FP/C.

Gender norms in South Africa: implications for HIV and pregnancy prevention among African and Indian women students at a South African tertiary institution.

In post-Apartheid South Africa, women are constitutionally guaranteed protections and freedoms that were previously unknown to them. These freedoms may have positive implications for women's ability to negotiate sexual protection with partners and hence prevent unintended pregnancy and decrease their risk of HIV. Among tertiary institution students, who are a relatively 'privileged' group, there is little information on gender norms that might shape responses to HIV-prevention programmes. To elicit gender norms regarding women's and men's roles, condom and contraceptive use, sexual communication and sexual pleasure, we conducted 10 semi-structured focus group discussions with African and Indian female tertiary institution students in order to understand how norms might be used to buttress HIV- and pregnancy-prevention. Participants reported dramatic changes in the structure of gender norms and relations with the formal recognition of women's rights in the post-Apartheid context. These generational shifts in norms are supported by other research in South Africa. At the same time, women recognized the co-existence of traditional constructions of gender that operate to constrain women's freedom. The perceived changes that have taken place provide an entry point for intervention, particularly for reinforcing emerging gender norms that promote women's protection against unintended pregnancy and HIV/STIs.

Missed opportunities: emergency contraception utilisation by young south African women.

Although contraceptives, including emergency contraceptives, are widely available free at public health facilities in South Africa, rates of teenage and unintended pregnancy are high. This paper analyses awareness and utilisation of emergency contraception amongst 193 young women (aged 15-24 years) attending public sector health facilities. Structured interviews were held at 17 and 14 primary health clinics in an urban and a rural area respectively. Respondents were asked about their knowledge of contraceptive methods and use, and specifically about emergency contraceptive utilisation. More sexually active young urban women (76%) were currently using a method of contraception, compared to the young rural women (53%). Only 17% had ever heard of emergency contraception, although significantly more in the urban area (p = 0.005) had heard of it. Only one woman from each site had ever used emergency contraception, although 39% had had unprotected intercourse in the previous year when they did not wish to conceive. Young South African women should be the focus of interventions aimed at improving awareness of the availability of emergency contraception and knowledge about its correct utilisation.