Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Women's Empowerment And Contraceptive Use: The Role Of Independent Versus Couples' Decision-Making, From A Lower Middle Income Country Perspective, Waqas Hameed, Syed Khurram Azmat, Moazzam Ali, Muhammad Ishaque Sheikh, Ghazunfer Abbas, Marleen Temmerman, Bilal Iqbal Avan

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: There is little available evidence of associations between the various dimensions of women’s empowerment and contraceptive use having been examined - and of how these associations are mediated by women’s socio-economic and demographic statuses. We assessed these phenomena in Pakistan using a structured-framework approach.

Methods: We analyzed data on 2,133 women who were either using any form of contraceptive or living with unmet need for contraception. The survey was conducted during May - June 2012, with married women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in three districts of Punjab. The dimensions of empowerment were categorized broadly into: economic decision making, …

Unintended Pregnancies In Kenya: A Country Profile, Joyce Mumah, Caroline W. Kabiru, Carol Mukiira, Jessica Brinton, Michael Mutua, Chimaraoke O. Izugbara, Harriet Birungi, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

This research report presents a country profile of Kenya, and looks at differential access to and quality of family planning (FP) and abortion/post-abortion services to assess their current situation, as well the various financing and delivery mechanisms for these crucial services. Since 2000, Kenya has passed several new sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and population-related policies, including a new population and development policy that addresses rapid population growth. Results of this country profile highlight the need for further research on: 1) innovative ways through which SRH information can be brought to schools; 2) FP/SRH indicators in people living with disabilities; …

Reduce Contraception Discontinuation In Bangladesh By Improving Counseling On Side Effects, Fauzia Akhter Huda, Sabiha Chowdhuri

Reproductive Health

High rates of contraceptive discontinuation and method failure could cause Bangladesh to lose the progress made in increasing contraceptive use over the past 20 years. This policy brief concludes that if women are adequately counseled and supported to sustain their use of more effective contraceptive methods, they will need less medical attention, have fewer unintended pregnancies, and reduce the workload for medical clinics. Furthermore, if providers are adequately trained and supported in counseling and managing side effects and in helping women to switch methods when they do have a problem, the Family Planning Clinical Contraception Services Delivery Program would meet …

Measuring The Impact Of Contraceptive Use On Unintended Pregnancy And Other Health Outcomes, Step Up Research Programme Consortium

Reproductive Health

This brief describes several statistical models that have been developed to estimate the number of health outcomes that will be averted because of contraceptive use. Concerns have been expressed that this range of approaches—which overlap in the impacts they estimate, but sometimes use different inputs, mathematical algorithms, and assumptions, and may produce different results—may be confusing for policymakers, managers, and donors who want to measure or evaluate these impacts. To address these concerns, the STEP UP consortium convened two expert meetings to review the estimation methods used; come to consensus on methodologies and assumptions, where possible; and provide guidance to …

Access To Emergency Contraception And Safe Abortion Services For Survivors Of Rape: A Review Of Policies, Programmes And Country Experiences In Sub-Saharan Africa, Jill Thompson, Chi-Chi Undie, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

This study examined how pregnancy prevention and management services (specifically, the provision of emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling, and termination or referral for termination of pregnancy services) feature within post-rape care services in sub-Saharan Africa. The study drew on a range of sources via a desk review, as well as on information provided through key informant interviews. The existence of numerous national guidelines in the region demonstrates countries’ desire to respond to this public health and legal challenge. However, if left in their current state, the gaps and inconsistencies observed across most national guidelines contribute to a violation of …