Abstract
Introductionin Burkina Faso, despite the strategies implemented to increase the use of contraceptives, the prevalence rate of modern contraceptives remains low. Religion is an important part of the socio-cultural fabric of many communities. Besides, religious leaders play an essential role in adopting and using contraceptive methods to support family health. The study objective was to explore the knowledge, beliefs and perceptions of religious leaders about modern contraceptives among women of childbearing age.Methodsdata were collected in September 2018 from twenty-one religious' leaders of the urban municipality of Dori. Study participants were selected based on reasoned sampling with maximum variation (sex, religion, age, residence and level of education). We conducted semi-structured individual interviews, non-participant observations and documentary review.Resultsreligious leaders have a good knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, but they prefer traditional contraceptive methods and abstinence. They consider modern contraception as abortion and female sterilization and emphasize birth spacing. Furthermore, religious leaders lack training on contraception and have no real links and exchanges with sexual and reproductive health services. As a result, their assessment of the quality of these services is very mixed.Conclusionreligious leaders play a crucial role in improving modern contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso. Close collaboration with family planning services should, at all times, be maintained. The implementation of training and educational activities for religious leaders could help raise modern contraceptive use in Burkina Faso.
Highlights
Planning is part of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), which call for universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes
The results showed that the religious leaders interviewed have a good knowledge of modern contraceptive methods
Other authors have made similar findings that the use of hormonal contraceptives remains problematic in rural areas [20,21] and that fertility preference underlies the social value of procreation as an obstacle to modern contraception methods [22]
Summary
Planning is part of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), which call for universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes. Like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa (ASS), Burkina Faso has a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 330 per 100,000 live births in 2018 [2]. This country is characterised by a low rate of modern contraceptive methods, with 23.3% unmet need for family planning and a contraceptive prevalence rate of 32.5% [2]. The government of Burkina Faso has committed to increasing modern contraceptive prevalence through several strategies such as the community-based distribution of contraceptives, implementation of a strategic plan to secure reproductive health products and a national plan to revive family planning [5]. In addition to implementing the national action plan to accelerate family planning 2017-2020, local authorities and religious leaders are asked to develop outreach activities to raise awareness in their communities [6]
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