The Current Barriers and Management Strategy to Increase the Use of Long Acting Reversible Contraception Methods in Egypt

Abstract

Long acting reversible contraception methods (LARCs) are ideal pregnancy prevention options for many women compared with shorter-term methods. Aim: to assess the current barriers and management strategy to increase the use of LARCs. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Setting: Conducted at 5 family planning units at Sharkia governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A representative sample of 225 woman who were attended the selected family planning units between the period from January to December 2020. Tools: Two tools were used to collect the study data; socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire and barriers of LARCs questionnaire. Results: The women mean age was 30±7 years. The main barriers against the use of LARCs were cognitive barriers followed by requiring woman to return for check-ups and socio cultural barriers (50.7%, 15.6%, 14.6%) respectively. Conclusion:The utilization of short acting contraceptive methods is higher than long acting methods and cognitive barriers were the main barriers for LARC utilization. Recommendations: Increase women's awareness about the importance of using family planning methods especially LARCs.

Untitled

“…Egypt is already considered the biggest populations within MENA area with over around 106 million inhabitants in 2022 and it is expected to increase to access about 120 million by 2030 if the TFR rates continue at the same level of births per women (United Nations 2017).  It has been confirmed that Egypt is currently witnessing a downhill in long-acting reversible contraception methods (LARCs) and alongside a high rate of unintended pregnancy among families, one of the Sociocultural barriers causes this issue that there was reluctance to discuss sexual behaviors and habits with medical staff freely, specific family composition of two or one girl and the desire about the ideal number of children that will be suitable to satisfy the desire of each party of two couples (Gad et al 2021). Further, it has been referred that there is relationship between fertility behavior and understanding the desire of ideal family-size could be post-hoc rationalization of actual fertility soon (Bongaarts 2013).…”