Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that family planning (FP) services are easily accessible at no cost in all levels of health facilities of the Government of Unguja and Pemba islands, the acceptance and utilization of FP services are very low. The Tanzanian Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) of 2015 found that only 11.2% of women in Pemba used family planning and among them only 9.1% used a modern method of family planning. The problems of low utilization of modern family planning cause rapid increase of population in the area of the study.
AIM: This study aims to explore perceptions of women of reproductive age on the access, use, social cultural and economic factors associated with the use of modern family planning in Wete District Pemba.
METHODS: An exploratory descriptive research design was conducted in Wete District, North region Pemba. Thirty eight (38) participants aged 20-49 years old were conveniently recruited for the study. Four (4) focus group discussions were used to collect data and thematic analysis guided analysis of the data.
RESULT: The study revealed that modern family planning is available in all Public Health facilities in this district but unavailable in private facilities. Women had positive and negative perceptions about modern family planning. Women who had positive perceptions, commonly used them and felt that modern family planning were good for limiting number of children and for better health of mother and the child. However, those who had negative perceptions did not use modern family planning, and they were perceived to cause bad side effects. Further, socio-cultural factors such as low decision making power for women on the use of methods and therefore depended on their husband and in laws. Religious beliefs also influenced women on the use of modern family planning.
CONCLUSION: Women in Wete District do not use modern family planning methods because of the socio-cultural beliefs. Family planning methods were available in all public health facilities but were unavailable in the private health facilities.
RECOMMENDATION: Ministry of Health, Zanzibar through RCH Program to establish programs that would empower women to be able to make own decisions on the use of FP and ensure availability of FP in all health facilities especially private ones.
