Knowledge Of Family Planning Research Articles

Family planning knowledge, use, and associated factors among women with mental illness and epilepsy in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionFamily planning knowledge and access to quality family planning services occupy a central position in the lives of all women of reproductive age. However, women with mental illness and epilepsy who are at a high risk of sexual violence, unwanted pregnancies, poor obstetric outcomes, and drug interaction consequences, need it the most. Understanding their family planning knowledge and utilization remains crucial for meeting their needs. The present study aims to assess knowledge, use of family planning, and associated factors among women living with mental illness and epilepsy who attend the Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital and affiliated branches.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022 and February 2023. The study involved a purposive sample of 289 women who attended the Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital and its two affiliated branches during the data collection period. Psychiatric nurses administered a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with the use of family planning methods.ResultsOut of 289 who participated in the study, the majority (96.9%) were aware of family planning methods, most (67.8%) had used one method once in their life course, a half (51.9%) were using a family planning method at the time of data collection, and a slight number (26%) expressed intentions of using a family planning method in the future. The most known and used methods were respectively the injectable (17.5%) and oral contraceptive pill (17.5%). Regarding the natural family planning methods, breastfeeding and withdrawal were less used. Being single (AOR = 66.4, 95% CI: 9.8, 44) or married (AOR = 51.4, 95% CI: 11.9–22), having a primary level of education (AOR = 5.6, 95% CI: 2.0, 15.9), knowing a contraceptive method (AOR = 5.8, 95% CI: 0.6, 49) and suffering from brief psychotic disorders (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.6) predicted a higher utilization of family planning.ConclusionMost of the women with mental illness in this study were aware of family planning methods and had used one of the family planning methods in life. The national average is below when it comes to family planning awareness. It is important to improve family planning education and counseling for women who attend psychiatric outpatient clinics.

Perspectives of healthcare providers around providing family planning services to women living with HIV attending six HIV treatment clinics in Lusaka, Zambia

ABSTRACT While international guidelines recommend integration of family planning (FP) and HIV services, limited research has been done to explore how healthcare providers perceive the feasibility and utility of integrated services. To address this gap, we administered a standardized questionnaire to 85 providers from 6 HIV clinics in Lusaka, Zambia, before (April–May 2018) and after (May–June 2019) implementing an enhanced model of FP/HIV service integration. We tested for differences in FP knowledge, attitudes and practices between the two time periods with tests appropriate for paired observations. The proportion of providers self-reporting direct provision of contraceptives increased significantly for several methods including oral contraceptives (14% vs. 26%, p = 0.03), injectables (9% vs. 25%, p < 0.001), implants (2% vs. 13%, p = 0.007) and intra-uterine devices (2% vs. 13%, p = 0.007). In-depth interviews were also conducted post-integration with 109 providers to solicit their feedback on the benefits and challenges of offering integrated services. While providers were highly supportive of integrated services, they identified several challenges including widespread belief in FP myths among female clients, the need to consult a male partner prior to starting FP, lack of trained staff and space, and frequent stockouts of contraceptives and equipment. Addressing these challenges will be critical in designing future services.

Demographic behaviour of the Scheduled Castes People of Dhubri District of Assam with a focus on their attitude to family planning and the adoption behaviour of family planning measures.

Knowledge and practice of family planning is one of the important variables regulation fertility of a couple. Bongaarts has suggested that family planning programmes not only reduce fertility, but they also help in diffusion of knowledge about fertility regulation1. Contraceptives use take place because of two reasons - for fertility control and for spacing. Initially, family planning methods were adopted only for birth control, but at present most of the newly married couples use it for spacing. The acquisition of knowledge and practice of family planning, a proximate determinant of fertility differentials, depend on different socio-economic and demographic variables. (Such as education of the mothers, occupation of the wives, total family income, live birth, age at marriage etc.) The immediate objective of the National Population Policy (2000) is to address unmet needs for contraception. Couples protection rate is an indicator of the prevalence of contraceptives practice in a population. It is defined as percent of eligible couples effectively protected against childbirth by one or other approved methods of family planning.2 Thegeneral objective of the research study is to highlight thedemographic behaviour of the Scheduled Castes People of Assam and their attitudes towards family planning and family planning measures. The specific objectives of the study is to study the level of penetration of family planning knowledge and the level of practicing such knowledge among the respondent females Scheduled Castes of Assam. The research project will be primarily based on field data collected from the sample households of the sample villages with the help of a series of questionnaires prepared for the purpose. The samples will be selected with the help of multi-phased (Stratified) sample technique both random and purposive.

Religious leaders’ nuanced views on birth spacing and contraceptives in Sierra Leone - qualitative insights

BackgroundSierra Leone is a religiously diverse country, with Christianity and Islam being the dominant faiths. This religious landscape plays a significant role in shaping attitudes towards family planning and contraceptives. We examined religious leaders’ knowledge of family planning and modern contraceptive methods.MethodsIn September 2021, data was collected from 116 religious leaders in Sierra Leone, including 32 Muslims and 84 Christians from nine different denominations from sixteen districts, through 16 focus group discussions. The data was subjected to a thematic analysis using NVIVO 12 software.ResultsThe study found a spectrum of opinions among religious leaders, both between religions (Christianity vs. Islam) and within denominations of Christianity. There was a general acceptance of natural birth spacing methods, like abstinence during fertile periods, across both Christian and Muslim leaders. Views on modern contraceptives were more divided. Catholics generally opposed them, citing religious doctrines against interfering with procreation. Pentecostals and some Muslims, however, found them permissible under certain circumstances, like promoting family well-being or spacing births for health reasons.ConclusionThe study reveals that religious leaders’ views on family planning in Sierra Leone are multifaceted. Understanding these nuances is crucial for designing effective family planning programs. By working with denominations that are more accepting of modern methods and leveraging the support for natural birth spacing methods across religions, there’s potential to improve reproductive health outcomes in Sierra Leone.

Knowledge, Acceptance, and Uptake of Family Planning: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Antenatal Care in Ghana.

The use of family planning (FP) methods significantly contributes to improved outcomes for mothers and their offspring. However, the use of FP remains low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. A cluster randomized controlled clinical trial was implemented in Ghana, comparing group antenatal care (ANC) with routine care. The group ANC intervention included eight meetings where the seventh group meeting incorporated information and discussion regarding methods of FP. Data collection occurred at five time points: baseline (T0), 34 weeks' gestation (T1), 6-12 weeks post birth (T2), 5-8 months post birth, and 11-14 months post birth (T4). At T1, there was a significantly greater increase in the knowledge of FP methods as well as the intention to use FP after the birth among the intervention group. The uptake of FP was significantly higher in the intervention group for all post-birth timepoints except for T4 where the control group had significantly higher rates. The reasons for the diminishing effect are unclear. An increasing uptake of FP methods requires a multifaceted approach that includes increasing accessibility, knowledge, and acceptability as well as addressing societal and cultural norms.

Scoping review of qualitative studies on family planning in Uganda.

Family planning (FP) is an essential component of public health programs and significantly impacts maternal and child health outcomes. In Uganda, there is a need for a comprehensive review of the existing literature on FP to inform future research and programmatic efforts. This scoping review aims to identify factors shaping the use of FP in Uganda. We conducted a systematic search of eight scholarly databases, for qualitative studies on FP in Uganda. We screened the titles and abstracts of identified articles published between 2002-2023 and assessed their eligibility based on predefined criteria. We extracted data from the 71 eligible studies and synthesized the findings using thematic analysis and the Ecological Systems Theory (EST) individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, and policy-level determinants. Findings reveal the interplay of factors at different socio-ecological levels influencing family planning decisions. At the individual level, the most common determinants related to the EST were knowledge and attitudes of FP. Interpersonal dynamics, including partner communication and social support networks, played pivotal roles. Community-level factors, such as cultural norms and accessibility of services, significantly influenced family planning practices. Institutional and policy-level factors, particularly a healthcare system's quality and policies, also shaped use. Other themes included the intersection of HIV/AIDS on FP practice and Ugandan views of comprehensive abortion care. This scoping review underscores the intricate socio-ecological fabric shaping FP in Uganda. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to increase knowledge and awareness of FP, improve access to services, and address social and cultural norms that discourage contraceptive use. Policymakers and program implementers should also consider gender dynamics and power imbalances in FP programs to ensure they are equitable and effective.

Knowledge and utilization of family planning services among tertiary students in Northern Ghana: The case of College of Nursing and Midwifery, Nalerigu.

Though tertiary students studying health-related programs are assumed knowledgeable about family planning, this does not always translate to increased use of family planning services. In a cross-sectional survey, this study assessed 411 nursing, midwifery and allied health students' knowledge of family planning, contraceptive use, perceptions, and factors affecting the utilisation of family planning services. Each student completed a 24-itemised questionnaire in a Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing Survey. The data was analysed with Stata /IC version 16. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Overall knowledge of family planning was 99.7%, commonly gained in school (51.8%), followed by clinics and hospitals (41.4%). Only 21.7% of the students used family planning services. Menstrual cramps (57.9%), infertility (33.1%), and weight gain (32.5%) were the commonly perceived side effects of contraceptive use. The high proximity of participants to family planning service providers and lack of community, family, and partner acceptance of modern contraceptives were associated with underutilisation. Despite the high level of knowledge of family planning, the student's utilisation of family planning services was poor. To boost family planning service uptake among tertiary health students, it is essential to tackle barriers related to community, family, and partner acceptance. This can be achieved through educational programs that involve men in family planning discussions and by enhancing service accessibility.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Family Planning among Mothers attending Antenatal Care in Rural Uganda: Implications for Maternal Health and Population Growth

Family planning remains a critical aspect of maternal health and population management in Uganda, particularly in rural areas. Despite concerted efforts to increase awareness and accessibility, utilization rates remain suboptimal. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of family planning among mothers attending antenatal care in Kyotera district, Uganda. A sample of 138 participants completed questionnaires, revealing a nuanced landscape: while overall knowledge of family planning was high (73.9%), a significant minority demonstrated poor understanding (26.1%). Similarly, though the majority exhibited positive attitudes towards family planning (71.0%), a substantial proportion held negative views (29.0%). Notably, 62.3% of mothers were not utilizing any family planning methods, despite 37.7% reporting usage, with injectable contraceptives being the most common (42.3%). These findings underscore the need for targeted education campaigns, enhanced service accessibility, and dispelling misconceptions to promote informed decision-making and uptake of family planning methods. Addressing these challenges is vital for improving maternal health outcomes and managing population growth in rural Uganda. Keywords: Family planning, Maternal health, Kyotera district, Rural Uganda, Antenatal care, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices.

The Knowledge and Practice of Family Planning Among Muslim Women in Rural Karnataka, India.

Introduction Women's health is significantly impacted by undesirable pregnancies and unsafe abortions, leading to the deaths of thousands of women and causing many others to suffer from infertility and long-term reproductive health issues. To address this problem, the use of modern contraception methods is increasing, regardless of economic status and dwelling, allowing women to exercise their rights and access reproductive health services. Objective The objective of this study is to examine the knowledge and practiceof family planning and the factors associated with it. Settingand design A cross-sectional study was conducted among Muslim women (n=461) using a two-stage stratified random sampling method with a semi-structured questionnaire in the five taluks of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. Methods and materials The required study sample was drawn by adopting the two-stage stratified random sampling technique. The study population was divided into different strata consisting of panchayats and wards. The number of households was selected from these panchayats/wards. Statistical analysis The association between faith in family planningand the knowledge and practice of family planning is studied using a chi-squared test. The factors associated with the practice of family planningare identified using a univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)version 27 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results There is a significant association between faith in family planning and its practice, with a p-value of less than 0.0001. Age was also found to be a significant factor associated with the practice of family planning. Specifically, women aged 31-40 were less likely to practice family planning compared to women aged 21-30, with a p-value of 0.012. The majority of individuals indicated the preferred child (23.9%) and going against the custom (16.5%) as their reasons for not using family planning. Conclusions Muslim women are reasonably well-informed about modern methods of contraception, but their usage remains relatively low. Outreach initiatives, health worker mobilization from within the community, and health education and information sharing are examples of program interventions that could help address this issue.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Family Planning Among Married Women in ALTI City, AL-Gezira State, Sudan, March-2023

Background: Researches have shown highest awareness but low utilization of contraceptives making the situation a serious challenge. Most of women in reproductive age group know little or have incorrect information about family planning methods. Even when they know the name of some of the contraceptives, they do not know where to get them or how to use it. These women have negative attitude about family planning, whereas some have heard false and misleading information, the current study aimed in assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of family planning among married women in ALTI city. Justification: Considering the high risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, increased risks of unintended pregnancy, this study aims to explore the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of family planning (FP) and associated factors among married women living in ALTI city February 2023. Methods: 45 women were interviewed. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire, which included study participants sociodemographic characteristics, access to FP services, knowledge, attitude, and practice of FP. Study Population: This study targeted married women in childbearing age in ALTI city February-2023.

Knowledge of Family Planning among Nursing Students at a Private Institute Karachi

Family planning (FP) is defined as the whole effort made by a couple to prevent pregnancy and to create some space among their children. FP helps in avoiding undesirable pregnancies thus promote maternal and child health. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of FP among nursing students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used at Horizon School of Nursing with a total of 80 students selected through purposive sampling technique. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Results: Study results showed that 45% of the students were in age group 20-30 years, 61.2% were female and if we talk about spouse education status all of them were literate, most of the respondent's monthly income was between 30,000-50,000 PKR, 47.5% were having no children, 40% having 1-2 children, 50% of them wished to have 1-2 children, most of them (48.8%) had 1-2 years interval between their children, majority of the respondents (88.8%) had heard of FP, the source of information regarding FP mostly (56.2%) were hospitals, availability of FP services known by respondents were private hospitals (83.8%) and methods of FP known by the students mostly (42.5%) were condoms. Conclusions: The study showed that only 42.5% of the students knew the condom method of FP, 23.7% withdrawal methods, 20% oral contraceptive pills, and a very low percentage of other methods of FP which need to be enhanced by conducting seminars and other awareness programs in nursing schools and colleges.

Risky Sexual Behaviours and Knowledge on Contraceptive Use and Family Planning Among Women Who Use Drugs (WWUDs) in Malaysia

Women who use drugs (WWUDs) face elevated risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and unsafe sexual behaviours. This prevalence study, involving 200 WWUDs in a mandated drug rehabilitation program, examined risky sexual behaviours, family planning knowledge among IPV victims, and barriers to contraceptives or condoms use. The majority were Malays (86%, n = 171/200), averaging 32.3 years of age (SD = 8.61). Over half had experienced IPV in their lifetime (53%, n = 105/200). IPV victims had higher odds of unwanted pregnancies, prior abortions, concurrent drug use with partners, drug use before sex, and cohabitation with male partners who used drugs. Sixty percent were uninformed of female condoms, and most disliked using male condoms due to performance concerns. Despite better family planning knowledge among IPV victims, WWUDs had limited awareness of contraceptive use. Interventions should prioritize empowering and educating WWUDs, particularly IPV victims, on IPV prevention and the risks associated with unsafe sexual behaviour during rehabilitation.

CyberRwanda's Pathway to Impact: Results From a Cluster-Randomized Trial of Adolescent Family Planning Knowledge, Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, and Behavior

PurposeCyberRwanda is a digital health intervention designed to increase knowledge of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) and access to youth-friendly services in Rwanda. MethodsSixty schools in eight districts were randomized 1:1:1 to one of two CyberRwanda implementation models—self-service (tablet-only) or facilitated (tablet, activity booklet, peer facilitators)—or to control. Students aged 12–19 years were randomly selected to participate. Baseline and 12-month midline surveys assessed intermediate (secondary) outcomes of FP/RH and HIV knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavior. Prevalence differences (PDs) were estimated using generalized linear mixed models. ResultsThere were 5,767 midline participants (51% female, mean/median age: 16 years, 29.9% sexually active). Those in CyberRwanda schools had higher knowledge of emergency contraception (57.3% vs. 47.5%, PD: 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05–0.13); greater confidence in providing consent (73.3% vs. 68.1%, PD: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01–0.08), negotiating partner's contraceptive use (88.3% vs. 85.0%, PD: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01–0.06), and accessing/using contraceptive services (95.6% vs. 91.8%, PD: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02–0.05); and more favorable views on FP/RH services (54.5% vs. 48.5%, PD: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.11) and condoms (76.9% vs. 71.3%, PD: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03–0.08) compared to control. No significant differences in HIV/fertility knowledge, confidence in accessing HIV testing, or condom use were observed. DiscussionCyberRwanda increased FP/RH knowledge, supportive attitudes/beliefs, self-efficacy, and behavior at 12 months. The 24-month endline analysis will reveal whether CyberRwanda's benefits on intermediate outcomes result in changes to the primary outcomes, including contraception use and childbearing.

Individual and community-level determinants of knowledge about fertile periods among adolescent girls and young women (10–24 years) in Sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel mixed effect analysis of a recent demographic and health survey

BackgroundIdentifying fertility periods accurately will protect teenage girls and young women from unintended pregnancies and related complications. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, knowledge of the fertile period among adolescent girls and young women is not well studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess adolescents' and young women's knowledge regarding fertility periods and its determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa. MethodsThe most recent demographic and health surveys' data were used. The study had 140,064 participants in all. The data was analyzed using STATA/SE version 14. Using a multilevel logistic regression model, factors associated with knowledge of fertile periods have been determined. P-values <0.05 showed the significance of the factors associated with the outcome variable. The data were interpreted using the adjusted odds ratio and confidence interval. The best-fit model was determined to be the one with the highest logliklihood ratio and the lowest deviance. ResultsOne in five (20%) women between the ages of 10 and 24 had accurate knowledge about the fertile period. Age (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.40, 1.49), educational level (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.60, 1.77), knowledge of family planning (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.39), distance (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI: 2.02, 2.98), residence (AOR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10), and low community poverty (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 3.01, 3.12) had higher odds of knowledge about fertile period. ConclusionThis research finds that adolescents and young women in sub-Saharan Africa have low knowledge of the reproductive period. It was discovered that factors at the individual and communal levels influence women's knowledge of the fertile period. While developing policies and strategies, the health ministries of Sub-Saharan African countries had to take into consideration input from women whose experiences indicated that obtaining reproductive health services was hindered by distance.

Knowledge and practice of family planning among pregnant tribal women in Southern India: an observational study

BackgroundThere are over 700 Scheduled Tribes (ST) living in 30 Indian states. As with other indigenous groups across the world, Indian ST have some of the poorest infant and child health outcomes of any communities in India. A child born to an ST family is 19% more likely to die in the first month of life and has a 45 percent risk of dying in their first year compared with other Indian populations. Research suggests that early conception, high fertility, and low use of family planning methods are large contributors to these disparities.MethodsA cross sectional survey in Kannada was conducted among 303 pregnant tribal women in Mysore, India after obtaining informed consent. Univariate and multivariable analyses were carried out to determine the demographic and psychosocial factors associated with knowledge of contraceptive methods using Stata 14.0.ResultsThere was widespread knowledge about female sterilization, while only 39.3% of women reported hearing about one or more forms of temporary contraception, and 36.3% knew where to get them. The largest proportion of women had heard about copper-T (33.0%), followed by oral contraceptive pills (23.8%), condoms (11.9%), and injectables (4.6%). Only 2.7% of women reported ever using any form of temporary contraception. Results from the multivariable logistic regression indicated that knowledge of at least one form of temporary contraception was linked to higher age (adjusted odds ratio[AOR]: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.17), greater number of years of marriage (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96), and last birth in a government facility (AOR: 3.67; 95% CI: 1.99, 6.82).ConclusionsThe study revealed poor knowledge and utilization of temporary contraceptive methods among a tribal population in rural Mysore, India. Interventions aiming to increase knowledge of contraceptive options are important for birth spacing in this population and should target younger women and those without contact with government health facilities.

Balancing career goals and parenthood desires: results from a survey of undergraduate pre-health students at a hispanic-serving institution in Texas

Objective To examine family planning and fertility experiences and views, as well as desired parenthood timing and career plans, of diverse undergraduate pre-health students. Participants 266 pre-health undergraduate students attending a Hispanic-Serving Institution in South Texas. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, online survey with a purposive sample of undergraduate students and analyzed data descriptively. Results Most students desired children in the future but were concerned about planning the timing of parenthood against their career training. The results highlight the need to improve both family planning and fertility knowledge, based on a high unmet need for contraceptives, low perceived knowledge about fertility/infertility treatment, and a desire to learn more about planning the timing of their career training alongside parenthood. Conclusions This study highlights potential gaps in reproductive health information and services among diverse, health-focused students needed to inform choices about the timing of their families and career training.

Trend and determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Ethiopia, evidence from Ethiopian demographic and health survey 2000-2016; multilevel analysis.

Unmet need refers to the gap between women's desires and contraception use to monitor their fertility level. According to the data, unplanned pregnancies are more likely to result in miscarriage and other obstetric difficulties, have poor maternal health care usage, and have a higher risk of having babies who are underweight. Information on the trend of unmet family planning needs in Ethiopia is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine the trend and determinants of unmet need for family planning among married or in union women in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016. Cross-sectional study design from secondary data was performed. Data for the study was obtained from four consecutive Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys 2000 to 2016. The survey employs a nationally representative sample of households using a multistage stratified sampling technique. A descriptive analysis was done to see the trend in unmet need. Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression was performed to assess individual and community-level determinants. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05 were used to declare the level of significance. Unmet need declined by 40.2%, from 37.3% to 22.3%, from 2000 to 2016. Rural (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.27-1.59), number of living children > = 5 (AOR = 1.14 (1.04-1.24), age at first marriage > = 18 years (AOR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.09-1.21), knowing at least one method of Family Planning (FP) (AOR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.43-1.72), and no previous use of FP (1.27 (1.20-1.36) were associated with increased unmet need. While women between the ages of 20 and 24 (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.64-0.79), 25-29 (AOR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.55-0.70), 40-44 (AOR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.39-0.50), 45-49 (AOR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.18-0.24), the richest wealth index (AOR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80-0.96. The level of unmet need has decreased significantly in Ethiopia over the past 16 years. Age, educational level, media exposure, number of living children, age at first marriage, parity, previous use of FP, knowledge of FP, wealth index, regional setting, residence (rural), and survey year all have an association with an unmet need for family planning.

Unmet need for family planning among pastoralist community of West Omo zone, Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study

Introduction: Family planning is among the best suggested strategies to decrease the high maternal mortality and morbidity prevailing among pastoral communities. Despite this fact, there is no sufficient information regarding the unmet need for family planning in the study area. Therefore, this study was intended to assess the prevalence of unmet need for family planning and its associated factors among currently married women residing in pastoralist community of West Omo zone, Ethiopia. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 01 January to 01 April 2021 in West Omo zone. Five-hundred-sixty currently married women aged 15–49 were interviewed, and the study participants were randomly selected by employing a modified random walk approach. Data were checked manually for completeness and consistency, then entered into Epidata 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors, and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) at 95% CI with p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered as significant variables. Result: A total of 560 currently married women agreed to participate in this study making a response rate of 93.17%. Two hundred three, that is, about 36.3% (95% CI: 32.1, 40.2%) currently married women had an unmet need for family planning, with 119 (58.6%) wishing to delay childbirth and 84 (41.4%) seeking to limit. Have no formal education (AOR = 2.86 (95% CI: 1.61, 5.10)), having poor knowledge of family planning (AOR = 2.83 (95% CI: 1.45, 5.54)), and lack of husband support of family planning (AOR = 2.38 (95% CI: 1.22, 4.67)) are positively associated with unmet need for family planning. Conclusion: The magnitude of unmet need for family planning in this study is fairly high as compared to previous studies done among non-pastoral community. Hence, it’s important to consider the above identified factors while designing effective public health intervention.

Information behaviour and factors influencing family planning knowledge of Myanmar ethnic migrants: a qualitative study

The accessibility to quality family planning (FP) information and counselling for Myanmar ethnic migrants in Thailand is questionable. Inadequate knowledge and lack of informed choice to practice FP methods increase the risk of unmet needs and method failures in FP, which could result in unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions. This research aimed to understand the FP information behaviour of a Pa-O migrant group, as well as structural and agency influencing factors on FP knowledge acquisition in Chiang Mai. A qualitative research based on the Information Behaviour model and Structuration theory was conducted using participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. A non-probability sampling method was employed, and 31 respondents participated in the study. The study found that actively seeking FP information from formal sources to make an informed decision was not common among Pa-O migrants. Instead, there was more reliance on informal information sources for choosing FP methods. Cultural norms related to sex, marriage, and age hinder migrant health information-seeking behaviour from formal and informal information sources. Pa-O migrants were alienated from structural resources, limiting the opportunities to promote FP knowledge. The personal and situational factors that significantly influenced the agency of migrants were lack of awareness of the right to information, language barriers, and perceived communication barriers with health staff. Limited resources of migrant-friendly health education programmes adversely affect migrant FP information behaviour. Reproductive health education programmes, including quality FP counselling services, should be accessible for marginalised migrants to ensure that their choices of FP are well-informed.

Partnerships with religious leaders to promote family planning in rural Tanzania: an open-label, cluster randomised trial

Family planning benefits maternal-child health, education, and economic wellbeing. Despite global efforts, an unsatisfied demand for family planning persists in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on previous successful partnerships, the aim of this study was to determine whether an educational intervention for religious leaders would increase community knowledge, demand for, and ultimately uptake of family planning. In this open-label, cluster randomised trial in Tanzania, 24 communities were randomised (1:1) to intervention or control arm. Communities, defined as the catchment area of a single public health facility, were eligible if they were at least 15 km from Mwanza City and had not previously participated in a health intervention for religious leaders. Random allocations were determined by coin toss and were not revealed to clinicians at health facilities in intervention and control communities, nor to the data entry team; however, due to the nature of the intervention, masking of religious leaders in the intervention communities was not possible. All Christian religious institutions were invited to send four leaders to an educational intervention that incorporated cultural, theological, and medical teaching about family planning. The primary outcome was contraceptive uptake at the community health facility during the year post intervention versus the year before the intervention. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03594305. 75 communities in three districts were assessed for eligibility. 19 communities were excluded and 56 were eligible for study inclusion and were placed in random order to be invited to participate. The first 24 communities that were invited agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to receive the educational intervention either during the trial or after trial completion. Between July 10, 2018 and Dec 11, 2021, we provided the intervention in 12 communities and compared contraceptive uptake with 12 control communities. All were followed up for 12 months. In intervention communities, contraceptive uptake increased by a factor of 1·47 (95% CI 1·41-1·53) in the post-intervention (prospective) versus pre-intervention (historical) year (geometric mean of contraceptive uptake, 466 in the prospective year vs 312 in the historical year), versus 1·24 (95% CI 1·20-1·29) in control communities (geometric mean, 521 in the prospective year vs 429 in the historical year). The rate of change in contraceptive uptake was greater in intervention communities (between-group ratio of geometric mean ratios over time, 1·19 [95% CI 1·12-1·25]; p<0·0001). The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased contraceptive uptake (geometric mean, 365 during the pandemic in communities that had the majority of their prospective 12-month data collection periods occur after March 16, 2020, vs 494 before the pandemic; geometric mean ratio, 0·72 [95% CI 0·57-0·90]; p=0·0040). This intervention offers a scalable model, leveraging influence of trusted religious leaders to increase knowledge and uptake of family planning. New strategies such as this could help to overcome setbacks that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. John Templeton Foundation and Weill Cornell Medicine Dean's Diversity and Healthcare Disparity Award. For the Kiswahili translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.