Changing Perceptions of Females Regarding Contraception & Associated Rights: An Interventional Study

Abstract

Introduction: There is a strong connection between sovereignty, provision of rights and health status of women. Females from middle and low-income countries have a poor perception of contraceptive choices and rights. Aims & Objectives: This study determined change in contraception related perceptions and associated rights in females through behavior change communication strategies. Place and duration of study: Basic Health Units of District Lahore, Pakistan during 2011-2016. Material & Methods: A community-based, quasi-interventional study was conducted on conveniently selected 100 Muslim married females with parity ? 4, attending randomly selected 10 basic health units out of 37 in district Lahore. Self-constructed, structured questionnaire was administered by interviewer in local language for pre and post intervention assessment of knowledge and perception about contraceptives and contraception-associated female rights was used. Religion-based messages which were tailored for this context were imparted using behavior change communication strategies. Reinforcement was done after sixth months and the post BCC assessment was carried out to measure the change in the knowledge, nine months after intervention. Results: The mean age of respondents was 28.15 ± 5.35 years, 37.0% were illiterate, 93% had income/capita/month ? Rs.3000. 59% of the respondents never used any method of contraception. Out of contraceptive users, 53.7% used condoms while 48.8% made decision of spacing after they had 2 or more children. After imparting BCC, there was significant change (p<0.05) in perception about delay in first pregnancy, spacing, and decisions related to planning family, utilization of contraceptive services and contraception on the whole. Conclusion: Knowledge and perception about contraceptive use and rights can be significantly improved by using targeted, contextualized, tailored messages through behavior change approach

Keywords

• contraceptive use, contraceptive rights, contraception, behavioral change communication, perception, knowledge