Perception of men and women towards the use of Jadelle as a family planning method
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Date
2014-01-01
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Abstract
There are various family planning methods which are available for use in Malawi. One of these methods is the implant Jadelle. It is one of the most effective and long-lasting family planning methods such that most women using it will not become pregnant. In Malawi, where stock-outs are common and consistent access to short-term contraceptives is poor, long-term reversible methods like Jadelle offer an important option for men and women who want to delay, space or end their child-bearing years. It is clear that the use of Jadelle may be influenced by perceptions of women and their spouses. The perceptions of men and women on the use of the implant Jadelle as a family planning method in Malawi are unknown. Therefore this study was conducted to explore the perceptions of men and women on the use of the implant Jadelle as a family planning method. The study used a descriptive qualitative study design. Ethical approval and clearance were granted by the chief nursing officer at QECH and COMREC. The sample comprised of 5 couples who were using Jadelle. These couples were purposively sampled. The setting for the study was family planning clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH). The participants who accepted to participate in the study gave a written consent. They underwent individual interviews of 30- 45 minutes which were audio recorded. Data were analysed using manifest content analysis in which categories and themes were created. This study found that both men and women lacked knowledge about the mode of action of the implant Jadelle on the reproductive tract; they had wide spread misinformation and misconceptions; they were not given adequate information during Pre-insertion and Post-insertion counseling; and their main sources of knowledge about the implant were the radio and health talks. There were multiple factors that influenced their use of Jadelle as a family planning method; they accepted the use of Jadelle as a FP method because of its long lasting effectiveness and freedom it brought to them; the common side effect of Jadelle implant that affected its acceptability was the disruption of the menstrual cycle; and that both men and women made decisions on the issue of child spacing. In conclusion, this study established that both men and women generally lacked knowledge about the mode of action of Jadelle as a family planning method. It also established that their main sources of information about Jadelle were significant others, media and health talks. As such family planning providers should intensify one-on-one counseling to all the FP clients to ensure that they have clear and adequate information about Jadelle which may allow them to make informed choices.