Does women's literacy affect desired fertility and contraceptive use in rural-urban Pakistan?

Uptake of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age in Chake District-Pemba Tanzania: a descriptive crossectional study

BACKGROUND

The uptake of the modern contraceptive method provides chances for women and couples to reach optimal child spacing, achieve the desired family size and prevent unsafe abortions and maternal deaths. Despite the efforts in the health sector still, the contraceptive prevalence rate in Zanzibar remains low (9.1%). In Pemba, few studies have been done on modern contraceptive uptake and little is known about factors that hinder the uptake of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age. This study investigated the uptake of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age (18-45 years) and its associated factors.

METHODS

This was a quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in Chake District Hospital, Pemba Tanzania. A stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit 214 eligible participants for the study. After we informed the participants, data were collected using a structured English questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 25, descriptive analysis was done to determine frequencies. A chi-square test was done to determine the association between the study variables and multivariate logistic regression to check the nature and strength of the association. The p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

This study included 214 women of with majority 79(36.9%) at the age group of 21-30 years, 100(46.7%) had secondary education and 187(87.4%) married. Most of the participants 212(99.1%) have heard about modern contraceptives, with health facilities being the common source of information191(45.3). More than half 120(56.1%) of the participants were not using any modern contraceptive method and injectable 38(40.4%) was the commonly reported method among users. Among the users of modern contraceptives, lack of power to decide 180(84.1%), fear of divorce 141(65.9%), and social perception of users as the cause of reduced workforce in the future 161(75.2%) were common barriers. Participants provided suggestions to improve modern contraceptive uptake including male involvement 203(94.9%) and community awareness 182(85%). Further analysis revealed women with college/university education were 2 times more likely to use modern contraceptives method compared to those with primary or not attended school(p=0.023, OR=2.437, 95% CI: 1.129-5.259). Moreover employed women were 2 times more likely to use modern contraceptives compared to unemployed/housewives (p=0.028, OR=1.844, CI=1.068-3.185).

CONCLUSION

This study assesses the uptake of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age. Results showed a low uptake of modern contraceptives in this population. Although the observation in this study is similar to those reported in other countries, the updated information is still important to the policymakers and the Ministry of Health in the studied district.

Potential Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Future Birth Rate

Here, we examine the potential effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on future birth rates. This highly contagious disease originated in China, and rapidly spread worldwide, leading to extensive lockdown policies being implemented globally with the aim of containing the infection rates and its serious attendant consequences. Based on previous extant literature, this paper overviews the potential demographic consequences of the current progressively widespread epidemic on conception and fertility as driven by the data obtained during similar prior incidents. In general, epidemics manifest a common pattern as far as their impact on population, which is remarkably similar to natural disasters, i.e., a steep decline in birth rates followed by gradual increases and then followed by a baby boom. Additionally, we have also depicted how economic conditions, mental health, fear, and mortality may also influence future birth rates.

The separation of sexual activity and reproduction in human social evolution

In industrialized societies the progression of natural selection has been determined and in many cases superseded by social evolution. In the case of reproduction, there has been a decline and delay of childbearing without diminished sexual activity. While this has value for these societies, there are penalties associated with barren cycles. These include increases in endometriosis and breast and genital cancer. There also are associated issues regarding population movements that fill the "vacuums" left by underpopulation. These matters are of more than passing interest as we cope with unintended consequences of Man's dominance over the environment and other life forms.

Family planning knowledge and practice among Nigerian women attending an antenatal clinic

This study investigates family planning activity in 308 Nigerian women attending an antenatal clinic. Family planning awareness was present in 234 women (76%) and practice occurred in 168 (54.5%). Proposal to practice family planning occurred in 66 of 137 women who had never used contraception while 69 (22.4%) had no intention to practice family planning. The best-known type of contraception was the condom, 182 (59.1%); the most common used, the safe period (rhythm), 73 women (23.7%); while Billings' contraception was the most commonly proposed type, 72 women (23.4%). Knowledge of the beneficial effects of the chosen method of contraception was claimed by 102 women (43.6%) while 33 (14.2%) conceded ignorance of this. Similarly, 81 women (34.6%) claimed to know the adverse effects of their chosen method of contraception, while 119 (50.9%) admitted ignorance of it. The most common source of information on contraception was the printed media, 112 (47.9%), while the least common was lecture/sex instruction, 27 (11.5%). Lack of adequate information and ignorance are key factors militating against family planning practice in Nigeria. Family planning activity in Nigeria would be improved by wider dissemination of information on family planning through public lectures and the electronic media; training of family planning counselors to facilitate grass-roots coverage; universal entrenchment of family planning counseling into routine antenatal clinic activities; and integration of private medical centers into the national family planning service.