Title:
Urban women‟s experiences with implants and contraceptive decision-making in Vietnam: Findings from a qualitative study
Authors:
Anh, Dang Thi Ngoc
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
Year:
2015
PAGE:
v, 59
Language:
En
Subject:
Maternal Health – Lessons Learned
Keywords:
Implant, family planning, contraceptive decision-making, social network, male involvement, urban women, Vietnam.
Abstract:
With one of the highest contraceptive prevalence rates in the world, Vietnam paradoxically has exceptionally high unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. The implant, as the most reliable long-acting contraceptive method, potentially contributes to solve this paradox. Being introduced in Vietnam more than a decade ago; however, the implant only accounts for a mere 0.25% of method mix. This study sheds light on what is really behind this puzzling low use of the implant and how access to the implant can be improved by exploring urban women’s experiences with implants and their contraceptive decision-making. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 29 urban FP users and 4 SPs. The implant potentially fulfills the contraceptive needs of a proportion of urban women owing to its broad eligibility criteria, high effectiveness, convenience, and novelty. Women having sufficient number of children and postpartum women are potentially ideal recipients of the implant. However, high incidence of menstruation-related side-effects signifies the importance of counseling and continuum of care. Fear of infertility, concerns about health risks, and misconceptions are barriers to implant adoption. Urban women’s contraceptive implant decision-making seems to be less of an individualistic process than being shaped by their social networks. Enormous gap in communication should be addressed through social network-based approach. Private sector is a potential channel to deliver contraceptive implant services. In order to mitigate cost-related barrier to the implant and improve the quality of services, the inclusion of the implant in the health insurance program is worthwhile being considered.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
Department:
Development Policy & Practice
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Southeast Asia
Training:
Master in International Health
Category:
research
Right:
@ 2015 Anh
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
aybcBEsfpm_20171119132116959.pdf