Embracing the Autonomy of Catholic Women – Discussing the Healthcare and Environmental Consequences of the Church’s Ban on Contraception

"The modern Catholic Church represents a body of 1.3 billion people who follow the Church’s teachings, given to them in the form of documents on different topics, including family issues. The latest, 2016 Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, confirmed the previous documents on the topic, stating that periodical abstinence is the only contraceptive method possible for Catholic Christians. This means that 1.3 billion people are forbidden to use modern contraception. This significantly contributes to the spread of sexually transmitted infections (including AIDS/HIV pandemics) and the global epidemic of unintended pregnancies and their consequences (induced abortions, maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, etc.). These consequences are the most severe in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, where the Catholic Church prevails. Unintended pregnancies also greatly contribute to the rapid population growth currently being witnessed by humanity. As such, unintended pregnancies lead to severe environmental consequences (environmental degradation, resource depletion, species extinction, climate change, etc.). Unintended pregnancies are highly preventable if women are well-informed about family planning methods and if they are free to choose a contraceptive method based on their personal opinion, expectations, contraindications, and more. This merely underlies the important fact that voluntary family planning is fundamental to human dignity and critical for women’s health as well as the health of the planet. For the aforementioned reasons, it is necessary to openly discuss the healthcare and environmental implications of the Church’s ban on modern contraception, and bring the Church’s representatives to acknowledgement of women’s autonomy to freely choose their preferable contraceptive method. "

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Choices and services related to contraception in the Gaza strip, Palestine: perceptions of service users and providers

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-019-0869-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bettina Böttcher ◽

Mysoon Abu-El-Noor ◽

Nasser Abu-El-Noor

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Contraceptive Use ◽

Gaza Strip ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Family Planning Services ◽

Potential Barriers ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

The Gaza Strip

Abstract Background Reliable contraception enables women and men to plan their family sizes and avoid unintended pregnancies, which can cause distress and anxiety, but also increase maternal mortality. This study explored potential barriers to contraceptive use for women in the Gaza Strip, Palestine from user and provider perspectives. Methods A convenient sample was used to recruit women, who were current contraception users, from three healthcare clinics that provide family planning care, two governmental and one non-governmental. A 16-item questionnaire was completed by 204 women, including socio-demographic data, contraceptive use and eight questions exploring user experience. Additionally, 51 women attended focus groups for a deeper insight into their contraceptive use experience and potential barriers. Furthermore, 14 healthcare providers were interviewed about their experience with service provision. Quantitative data are presented as means and frequencies and qualitative data were analysed item by item and are presented in themes jointly with the quantitative data. Results Women reported usage of only three main modern methods of contraception with 35.2% using intrauterine devices, 25.8% combined oral contraception and 16.4% condoms, while only 3.1% used the hormonal implant. Expectations from family planning services were low with most women attending the clinic having already decided their contraceptive method with decisions being made by husbands (41.2%) or women jointly with their partner (33.3%), only 13.7% took advice from service providers. Healthcare providers experienced high prevalence of beliefs that modern contraceptives cause infertility and cancer. Main barriers to effective family planning services were misconceptions of potential harm, poor availability and limited choice of contraceptive methods. Conclusion Women’s contraceptive choices in Gaza are limited by prevalent misconceptions and fears as well as recurring shortages, negatively impacting fertility control. Men are a major factor in choosing a contraceptive method, however, they have limited access to information and therefore, potentially more misconceptions. Therefore, male community members need to be included in the delivery of information on contraceptives to increase women’s choice. Furthermore, greater access to long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as the hormonal implant, and improved availability might be key factors in improving contraceptive uptake in Gaza and, thus, reducing unintended pregnancies.

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Has the Use of Contraceptive Helped in Averting Births? An Analysis of Births Averted in 21 Major States of India

10.21203/rs.3.rs-143162/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jyoti Das ◽

S.K. Singh ◽

Bidhubhushan Mahapatra

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

State Level ◽

Steady Increase ◽

Contraceptive Methods ◽

Female Sterilization ◽

Indian States ◽

Modern Contraception ◽

Contraception Use

Abstract Background: In a highly populated country like India, family planning plays a major role in controlling population growth. Estimation of births averted helps in assessing the effectiveness of contraceptive methods. Since the 1950s, different strategies of family planning have been adopted to curb fertility rates by expanding the use of modern contraception among couples. As a result, there has been a steady increase in the users of family planning methods to curb their family sizes. However, there is variation in the adoption of contraceptive methods across the states. From earlier researches, it is established that the permanent modern methods like female sterilization, male sterilization, and IUCD are almost 100 percent effective methods to prevent pregnancy. This study, therefore, is a worthy attempt to estimate the births averted using modern contraception at present for Indian states with the help of the latest available data, by using the method suggested by Liu and others (2008)[11]. Results: The results of the analysis show that births averted were highest in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. However, the percentage reduction in births by the contraceptive method is highest in Punjab indicating the effectiveness of modern contraception use. Conclusions: The analysis of births-averted estimation not only shows the state-level variations but also its significant impact on reducing TFR. Further, female sterilization has the highest prevalence rate among the contraceptive method and averting the highest number of births.

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Missed Opportunities for Family Planning Counselling among HIV-Positive Women Receiving HIV Care in Uganda

10.21203/rs.2.16340/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

JULIET NABIRYE ◽

Joseph KB Matovu ◽

John Baptist Bwanika ◽

Fredrick Makumbi ◽

Rhoda K. Wanyenze

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Critical Time ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Time Points ◽

Modern Contraception ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Abstract Introduction HIV-positive women who are still in the reproductive years need adequate sexual and reproductive health information to make informed reproductive health choices. However, many HIV-positive women who interface with the health system continue to miss out on this information. We sought to: a) determine the proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled in HIV care who missed family planning (FP) counselling; and b) assess if any association existed between FP counseling and current use of modern contraception to inform programming.Methods Data were drawn from a quantitative national cross-sectional survey of 5,198 HIV-positive women receiving HIV care at 245 HIV clinics in Uganda; conducted between August and November 2016. Family planning counseling was defined as receipt of FP information by an HIV-positive woman during ANC, at the time of delivery or at the PNC visit. Analyses on receipt of FP counseling were done on 2,760 HIV-positive women aged 15-49 years who were not currently pregnant and did not intend to have children in the future. We used a modified Poisson regression model to determine the Prevalence Ratio (PR) as a measure of association between receipt of any FP counseling and current use of modern contraception, controlling for potential confounders. Analyses were performed using STATA statistical software, version 14.1.Results Overall, 2,104 (76.2%) HIV-positive women reported that they received FP counseling at any of the three critical time-points. Of the 24% ( n =656) who did not, 37.9% missed FP counseling at ANC; 41% missed FP counseling during delivery; while 54% missed FP counseling at the post-natal care visit. HIV-positive women who received any FP counseling were significantly more likely to report current use of modern contraception than those who did not (adjusted PR [adj. PR] = 1.21; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.33).Conclusion Nearly one-quarter of HIV-positive women did not receive any form of FP counseling when they interfaced with the healthcare system. This presents a missed opportunity for prevention of unintended pregnancies, and suggests a need for the integration of FP counseling into HIV care at all critical time-points.

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Fertility Intentions and Interest in Integrated Family Planning Services among Women Living with HIV in Nyanza Province, Kenya: A Qualitative Study

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2012/809682 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Elizabeth K. Harrington ◽

Sara J. Newmann ◽

Maricianah Onono ◽

Katie D. Schwartz ◽

Elizabeth A. Bukusi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Fertility Intentions ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Perinatal Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv

Despite increasing efforts to address the reproductive health needs of people living with HIV, a high unmet need for contraception exists among HIV+ women in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores the fertility intentions and family planning (FP) preferences of Kenyan women accessing HIV treatment. We conducted 30 semistructured interviews and qualitatively analyzed the data with a grounded theory approach. Fears of premature death, financial hardship, and perinatal HIV transmission emerged as reasons for participants’ desire to delay/cease childbearing. Participants strongly identified FP needs, yet two-thirds were using male condoms alone or no modern method of contraception. Women preferred the HIV clinic as the site of FP access for reasons of convenience, provider expertise, and a sense of belonging, though some had privacy concerns. Our findings support the acceptability of integrated FP and HIV services. Efforts to empower women living with HIV to prevent unintended pregnancies must expand access to contraceptive methods, provide confidential services, and take into account women's varied reproductive intentions.

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Missed Opportunities for Family Planning Counselling among HIV-Positive Women Receiving HIV Care in Uganda

10.21203/rs.2.16340/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

JULIET NABIRYE ◽

Joseph KB Matovu ◽

John Baptist Bwanika ◽

Fredrick Makumbi ◽

Rhoda K. Wanyenze

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Critical Time ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Time Points ◽

Modern Contraception ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Abstract Introduction HIV-positive women who are still in the reproductive years need adequate sexual and reproductive health information to make informed reproductive health choices. However, many HIV-positive women who interface with the health system continue to miss out on this information. We sought to: a) determine the proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled in HIV care who missed family planning (FP) counselling; and b) assess if any association existed between FP counseling and current use of modern contraception to inform programming. Methods Data were drawn from a quantitative national cross-sectional survey of 5,198 HIV-positive women receiving HIV care at 245 HIV clinics in Uganda; conducted between August and November 2016. Family planning counseling was defined as receipt of FP information by an HIV-positive woman during ANC, at the time of delivery or at the PNC visit. Analyses on receipt of FP counseling were done on 2,760 HIV-positive women aged 15-49 years who were not currently pregnant and did not intend to have children in the future. We used a modified Poisson regression model to determine the Prevalence Ratio (PR) as a measure of association between receipt of any FP counseling and current use of modern contraception, controlling for potential confounders. Analyses were performed using STATA statistical software, version 14.1. Results Overall, 2,104 (76.2%) HIV-positive women reported that they received FP counseling at any of the three critical time-points. Of the 24% ( n =656) who did not, 37.9% missed FP counseling at ANC; 41% missed FP counseling during delivery; while 54% missed FP counseling at the post-natal care visit. HIV-positive women who received any FP counseling were significantly more likely to report current use of modern contraception than those who did not (adjusted PR [adj. PR] = 1.21; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.33). Conclusion Nearly one-quarter of HIV-positive women did not receive any form of FP counseling when they interfaced with the healthcare system. This presents a missed opportunity for prevention of unintended pregnancies, and suggests a need for the integration of FP counseling into HIV care at all critical time-points.

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Prevalence and factors associated with early discontinuation rate of Implanon utilization among women who ever used Implanon in Kucha District Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-020-01096-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mamecha Mesha ◽

Akalewold Alemayehu ◽

Deresse Daka

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Side Effects ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Discontinuation Rate ◽

Early Discontinuation ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Gamo Gofa

Abstract Background The promotion of contraception in countries with high birth rates has the potential to reduce poverty, hunger, maternal, and childhood deaths. Every year in sub-Saharan Africa approximately 14 million unintended pregnancies occurred and a sizeable proportion was due to poor use of short-term hormonal methods. Contraceptive hormonal implants are highly effective and suitable for almost all women at any stage of their reproductive lives. On the other hand, early discontinuation of the Implanon contraceptive method utilization is one of the foremost problems amid the family planning program. Early discontinuation of the Implanon contraceptive method and reasons for such discontinuation lingers the most significant anxiety for family planning programs. In unindustrialized countries, contraceptive discontinuation due to health concerns is generally higher; these complaints are often related to service quality. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with early discontinuation of Implanon among women who ever used Implanon in Kucha district, Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Methods Implanon contraceptive device users were selected from the Kucha district using a cross-sectional community-based survey from January to March 2018. A total of 430 women were selected and data were collected through face-to-face interviews by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi-Info version 7statistical software. Factors that showed association in a bivariate analysis that has a p value of less than 0.25 were entered into multiple logistic regression models for controlling confounding factors. The strength of statistical association was measured by adjusted odds ratio, at 95% confidence intervals, and p value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant variables. Result The result of this study revealed that the overall discontinuation rate of Implanon in the study was 34%. Variables having statistically significant association with Implanon discontinuation were women who never use a contraceptive method other than Implanon (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI 1.53–5.74), women who didn’t make discussion with a partner (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.57–7.04), poor counseling and follow up (AOR = 9.23, 95% CI 4.7–18.13), fear of side effects (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.058- 0.24) and poor satisfaction of service (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI 2.77- 9.76) Conclusion The overall early discontinuation rate of Implanon in the study area was high. The main factors associated with early discontinuation of Implanon were contraceptive ever use, discussion with partner, poor follow-up of counseling, fear of side effects, and un-satisfaction by the services given during the insertion rate of Implanon.

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Missed Opportunities for Family Planning Counselling among HIV-Positive Women Receiving HIV Care in Uganda

10.21203/rs.2.16340/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

JULIET NABIRYE(Former Corresponding Author) ◽

Joseph KB Matovu(New Corresponding Author) ◽

John Baptist Bwanika ◽

Fredrick Makumbi ◽

Rhoda K. Wanyenze

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Critical Time ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Time Points ◽

Modern Contraception ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Abstract Introduction HIV-positive women who are still in the reproductive years need adequate sexual and reproductive health information to make informed reproductive health choices. However, many HIV-positive women who interface with the health system continue to miss out on this information. We sought to: a) determine the proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled in HIV care who missed family planning (FP) counselling; and b) assess if any association existed between FP counseling and current use of modern contraception to inform programming. Methods Data were drawn from a quantitative national cross-sectional survey of 5,198 HIV-positive women receiving HIV care at 245 HIV clinics in Uganda; conducted between August and November 2016. Family planning counseling was defined as receipt of FP information by an HIV-positive woman during ANC, at the time of delivery or at the PNC visit. Analyses on receipt of FP counseling were done on 2,760 HIV-positive women aged 15-49 years who were not currently pregnant and did not intend to have children in the future. We used a modified Poisson regression model to determine the Prevalence Ratio (PR) as a measure of association between receipt of any FP counseling and current use of modern contraception, controlling for potential confounders. Analyses were performed using STATA statistical software, version 14.1. Results Overall, 2,104 (76.2%) HIV-positive women reported that they received FP counseling at any of the three critical time-points. Of the 24% ( n =656) who did not, 37.9% missed FP counseling at ANC; 41% missed FP counseling during delivery; while 54% missed FP counseling at the post-natal care visit. HIV-positive women who received any FP counseling were significantly more likely to report current use of modern contraception than those who did not (adjusted PR [adj. PR] = 1.21; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.33). Conclusion Nearly one-quarter of HIV-positive women did not receive any form of FP counseling when they interfaced with the healthcare system. This presents a missed opportunity for prevention of unintended pregnancies, and suggests a need for the integration of FP counseling into HIV care at all critical time-points.

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An Investigation of Traditional Family Planning methods used by women in the Bamenda Municipality, Cameroon

American Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing Practice ◽

10.47672/ajhmn.811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Kinga Mayin ◽

Bereynuy Cholong ◽

Florence Luti ◽

Lanyuy Dzekashu ◽

Nsem Kum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Side Effects ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Hot Water ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Modern Contraceptive ◽

Traditional Family ◽

Planning Methods ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Family Planning Methods

Introduction: Women in most sub-Saharan countries bear children at younger ages, have larger families, and make much less use of family planning. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest rate of contraceptive use in the world. There are both modern and traditional methods of Family planning. Throughout history, the traditional family planning practices used to space children have been rich and varied. Purpose: This work sets out to investigate the diverse traditional family planning methods used by women in the Bamenda Municipality and the determinants of their choices. Methods: A mix of descriptive and exploratory research designs were used. The purposive sampling technique was used to identify 100, participants residing in Bamenda Municipality who were married/cohabiting, aged 21-49 years, and whose last child was ≤ 5 years old. The multinomial logit model, chi-square, frequencies, percentages, and charts were used for the analysis. An interview administered questionnaire was administered to women of childbearing age who were not on any modern contraceptive method. Findings: Results showed that the local family planning methods used by women in the Bamenda Municipality were; withdrawal, lactational, calendar, cervical mucus, and douches methods. Other locally used products presumed by these women to help prevent conception were; bicarbonate, honey, thyme, parsley, herbs, lemon, cola drink, alakata pepper, alcohol, hot water, salt, vinegar, and whisky. Results further showed that age, age at first marriage, number of children, and the fear of side effects all significantly influenced women’s choice of withdrawal and calendar method over other methods of family planning. Conclusion: It can be concluded that, the most frequently used traditional contraceptive method by women in the Bamenda Municipality are; calendar (70%), withdrawal (58%), and lactational method(45%) whose choices over other methods especially over modern methods was mostly due to the fear of side effects of the modern method. It is recommended further research be carried out to investigate and establish the efficacy of the common products used by these women.

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Missed Opportunities for Family Planning Counselling among HIV-Positive Women Receiving HIV Care in Uganda

10.21203/rs.2.16340/v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

JULIET NABIRYE(Former Corresponding Author) ◽

Joseph KB Matovu(New Corresponding Author) ◽

John Baptist Bwanika ◽

Fredrick Makumbi ◽

Rhoda K. Wanyenze

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Critical Time ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Time Points ◽

Modern Contraception ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Hiv Positive Women

Abstract Introduction: HIV-positive women who are still in the reproductive years need adequate sexual and reproductive health information to make informed reproductive health choices. However, many HIV-positive women who interface with the health system continue to miss out on this information. We sought to: a) determine the proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled in HIV care who missed family planning (FP) counselling; and b) assess if any association existed between receipt of FP counselling and current use of modern contraception to inform programming. Methods: Data were drawn from a quantitative national cross-sectional survey of 5,198 HIV-positive women receiving HIV care at 245 HIV clinics in Uganda; conducted between August and November 2016. Family planning counselling was defined as provision of FP information (i.e. available FP methods and choices) to an HIV-positive woman by a health provider during ANC, at the time of delivery or at the PNC visit. Analyses on receipt of FP counselling were done on 2,760 HIV-positive women aged 15-49 years who were not currently pregnant and did not intend to have children in the future. We used a modified Poisson regression model to determine the Prevalence Ratio (PR) as a measure of association between receipt of any FP counselling and current use of modern contraception, controlling for potential confounders. Analyses were performed using STATA statistical software, version 14.1.Results: Overall, 2,104 (76.2%) HIV-positive women reported that they received FP counselling at any of the three critical time-points. Of the 24% (n=656) who did not, 37.9% missed FP counselling at ANC; 41% missed FP counselling during delivery; while 54% missed FP counselling at the post-natal care visit. HIV-positive women who received any FP counselling were significantly more likely to report current use of modern contraception than those who did not (adjusted PR [adj. PR] = 1.21; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.10, 1.33). Conclusion: Nearly one-quarter of HIV-positive women did not receive any form of FP counselling when they interfaced with the healthcare system. This presents a missed opportunity for prevention of unintended pregnancies, and suggests a need for the integration of FP counselling into HIV care at all critical time-points.

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Predictors of contraceptive method discontinuation among adolescent and young women in three West African countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger)

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-021-01326-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adja Mariam Ouédraogo ◽

Adama Baguiya ◽

Rachidatou Compaoré ◽

Kadari Cissé ◽

Désiré Lucien Dahourou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marital Status ◽

Burkina Faso ◽

Young Women ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Occupation Number ◽

Education Level ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Contraceptive Methods ◽

Unintended Pregnancies ◽

Contraceptive Discontinuation

Abstract Background The effective use of contraception among adolescents and young women can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies. However, the prevalence of contraceptive use remains low in this age group. The objective of this study was to estimate the rate of contraceptive method discontinuation among adolescents and young women and to identify its associated factors in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Method This was a secondary analysis of data from Demographic and Health Surveys of Burkina Faso (2010), Mali (2012–2013), and Niger (2012). The dependent variable was the time to discontinuation of contraceptive methods. Independent variables were represented by sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and cultural characteristics. Mixed-effects survival analysis with proportional hazards was used to identify the predictors. Results A total of 2,264 adolescents and young women aged 15 to 24 years were included in this analysis, comprising 1,100 in Burkina Faso, 491 in Mali, and 673 in Niger. Over the last five years, the overall contraceptive discontinuation rate was 68.7% (50.1% in Burkina Faso, 59.6% in Mali, and 96.8% in Niger). At the individual level, in Burkina Faso, occupation (aHR = 0.33), number of living children (aHR = 2.17), marital status (aHR = 2.93), and region (aHR = 0.54) were associated with contraceptive discontinuation. Except for education and marital status, we found the same factors in Mali. In Niger, a women's education level (aHR = 1.47) and her partner (aHR = 0.52) were associated with discontinuation. At the community level, the region of origin was associated with discontinuation of contraceptive methods. Conclusion Most adolescents and young women experienced at least one episode of discontinuation. Discontinuation of contraceptive methods is associated with the level of education, occupation, number of children, marital status, and desire for children with the spouse. Promotion of contraceptive interventions should target adolescents, young women, and their partners, as well as those with a low education level or in a union.

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