See the published version of this preprint at Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.
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Research
Elynn Kann Sanchez
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3144-4646
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Reducing unintended pregnancies among adolescents and youth ages 15-24 would lower global maternal mortality rates and improve health and well-being opportunities for young women. Despite calls to increase contraceptive use among this population, large gaps still exist, creating an unmet need for family planning. Past research has focused on barriers to seeking a method. There is less understanding of the types of methods young women want and who and what influences these decisions. This study examines what method characteristics young Nigerian women prioritize when choosing a method to inform future family planning programming.
Methods: In 2018, eight focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in the Nigerian cities of Ilorin and Jos with 83 young women ages 15-24. The discussion guide utilized a vignette structure to understand the participants’ perceptions of social norms on contraceptive behavior. The FGDs were undertaken by members of the University of Ibadan Centre for Population and Reproductive Health (CPRH) and analyzed by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Carolina Population Center. A thematic analysis was performed on the transcripts with the objective of identifying what and who influence the type of contraceptive methods young women are choosing.
Results: The method characteristics associated with young women’s contraceptive decisions include: side effects, reliability, length of coverage, privacy, cost, and accessibility. Side effects, reliability, and privacy were described as negatively linked to short-acting methods whereas easy accessibility and low cost were positive characteristics of these methods. Long-acting methods were generally viewed as positive. That said, the results find that the characteristics prioritized by individuals change throughout their adolescence. Providers, peers, parents, and partners were all found to have an influence over method choice in different ways. The role of these influencers also changes over the adolescent years. \
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that programs should prioritize expanding method choice to increase the number of available options to ensure all young women can access a method that fits their desired method characteristics. Programming should ensure that medically accurate information is widely distributed to harness providers, peers, parents and partners as a resource for information about specific methods.
Keywords
Contraception, Adolescents, Sub-Saharan Africa, Method Choice, Qualitative
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.
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Review #2 received
Received 04 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 29 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 24 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 02 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 01 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 01 Oct, 2020
Version 1
Posted 13 May, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 31 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 31 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 May, 2020
First submitted
On 02 May, 2020
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PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Elynn Kann Sanchez
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3144-4646
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 04 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 29 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 24 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 02 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 01 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 01 Oct, 2020
Version 1
Posted 13 May, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 31 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Major Revision
On 31 Aug, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 17 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 16 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 13 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 09 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 May, 2020
First submitted
On 02 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at Contraception and Reproductive Medicine.
Background: Reducing unintended pregnancies among adolescents and youth ages 15-24 would lower global maternal mortality rates and improve health and well-being opportunities for young women. Despite calls to increase contraceptive use among this population, large gaps still exist, creating an unmet need for family planning. Past research has focused on barriers to seeking a method. There is less understanding of the types of methods young women want and who and what influences these decisions. This study examines what method characteristics young Nigerian women prioritize when choosing a method to inform future family planning programming.
Methods: In 2018, eight focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted in the Nigerian cities of Ilorin and Jos with 83 young women ages 15-24. The discussion guide utilized a vignette structure to understand the participants’ perceptions of social norms on contraceptive behavior. The FGDs were undertaken by members of the University of Ibadan Centre for Population and Reproductive Health (CPRH) and analyzed by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Carolina Population Center. A thematic analysis was performed on the transcripts with the objective of identifying what and who influence the type of contraceptive methods young women are choosing.
Results: The method characteristics associated with young women’s contraceptive decisions include: side effects, reliability, length of coverage, privacy, cost, and accessibility. Side effects, reliability, and privacy were described as negatively linked to short-acting methods whereas easy accessibility and low cost were positive characteristics of these methods. Long-acting methods were generally viewed as positive. That said, the results find that the characteristics prioritized by individuals change throughout their adolescence. Providers, peers, parents, and partners were all found to have an influence over method choice in different ways. The role of these influencers also changes over the adolescent years. \
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that programs should prioritize expanding method choice to increase the number of available options to ensure all young women can access a method that fits their desired method characteristics. Programming should ensure that medically accurate information is widely distributed to harness providers, peers, parents and partners as a resource for information about specific methods.
The full text of this article is available to read as a PDF.
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