Factors related to choice of modern vs traditional contraceptives among women in rural Sri Lanka

Abstract

Objectives: Sri Lankan family planning progrmme aims to promote modern contraceptives. This study was aimed to assess factors associated with choice of traditional versus modern contraceptives among women in a rural setting in Sri Lanka Methods: Two groups of traditional method (n=217) and modern method (n=217) users were studied using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.Results: Age >35 years (p<0.001), Muslim ethnicity (p=0.045), living with extended families (p<0.001), not having children (p<0.001), youngest child being >6 years (p=0.012), non-receipt of detailed information on modern methods (p<0.001), public health midwife (PHM) not visiting homes (p<0.001), living >1 km from field clinic (p=0.002), nonutilization of field clinic services (p<0.001), negative opinions about PHM's services (p<0.001), negative opinion regarding services at field clinic (p<0.001) and poor knowledge on modern contraceptives (p=0.015) were associated with the choice of traditional methods. Conclusions:Choice of traditional method was associated with personal factors as well as service gaps.

Are users of modern and traditional contraceptive methods in Jordan different?

“…The difference between regions in the type of contraceptive methods used could be explained by the characteristics of women in the southern region, as reported in the latest (2012) Demographic and Health Survey (7), who had the lowest level of current use of family planning, and the least contact with health care providers. In addition, traditional factors and community influence towards having more children, particularly sons, could explain the differences in use of modern contraceptive methods between regions (4,13,18). This explanation could be supported by the differences in total fertility rate among areas and regions: total fertility rate in rural areas is higher compared to urban areas (3.9 vs 3.4, respectively) and total fertility rate is higher in the southern region than in the central region (3.7 vs 3.4, respectively) (7).…”

“…Choice of which contraceptive method to use is affected by factors such as the couple's desires and knowledge about methods, access to and availability of methods, providers' attitudes and biases, quality of care and counselling, and service cost (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

Perception of women towards contraceptive methods: using health belief model

“…• Low (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) • Moderate (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33) • High (34-44) Fourthly, Perceived barriers: It included (11items) from 11-44 and it ranked as follow:…”

Does Proximity to Conflict Zones Moderate Associations Between Girl Child Marriage, Intimate Partner Violence, and Contraception in Postconflict Sri Lanka?

“…Contraceptive methods vary in accessibility, detectability by a partner, whether they can be reversed (allowing for birth spacing), effectiveness (with modern methods being more effective than traditional), and acceptability to women and their partners. Sri Lankan women are more likely to use less-effective traditional methods than modern methods of contraception if they are Muslim, older than 35 years old, have a youngest child older than 6 years, and live with extended family members [4]. Sri Lankan women are also more likely to use traditional methods than modern methods if they live farther from a health clinic, have not had a public health midwife visit them, and have poor knowledge of modern contraceptives or a negative opinion of services at the nearest clinic [4].…”

“…Sri Lankan women are more likely to use less-effective traditional methods than modern methods of contraception if they are Muslim, older than 35 years old, have a youngest child older than 6 years, and live with extended family members [4]. Sri Lankan women are also more likely to use traditional methods than modern methods if they live farther from a health clinic, have not had a public health midwife visit them, and have poor knowledge of modern contraceptives or a negative opinion of services at the nearest clinic [4]. In addition to demographic factors and issues of contraceptive access or knowledge, gender inequities such as girl child marriage (marrying or cohabiting before age 18 [5]) and intimate partner violence (IPV) can also impact women and girls' use of contraception.…”