摘要
<strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> In 2012, Rwandan Government has declared family planning (FP) a national priority for poverty reduction and socioeconomic development. However, rural areas still contribute to higher fertility rates. <strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To explore factors to influence FP uptake in rural families. <strong>METHODS:</strong> This study used mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods consisted of two separate surveys. The first survey (quantitative-based cross-sectional design) determined FP use in households while the second survey (qualitative-based design) identified socio-cultural factors which hindered FP uptake in households. In total, 119 households with women in reproductive age (15 - 45) were targeted in rural areas in Western province, Karongi District. The data collected during door-to-door visits using paper-based-questionnaires and administered through interviews. A database mask was designed under OnaCollect, then processed in SPSS software. The results were presented in tables of frequencies, the difference between proportions assessed using Chi-Square-test, the difference between means assessed using t-tests, significance at p = or <0.05, confidence level at 0.95, and a margin error of 0.09. <strong>RESULTS:</strong> Socio-cultural norms influenced no use of contraception (32.8%) or only promoted natural methods (12.6%). Social norms were religious in origin (38.5%) where Christianity (91.8%) discouraged modern methods (viewed as killing children) but encouraged using natural methods, preferably abstinence (73.3%). Cultural norms (17.9%) influenced families to have many children as resources of wealth, evidence of productivity, and a way to decrease parents’ workloads including assisting mothers in home-based activities such as cooking, and assisting fathers in farming activities such as keeping cows, goats and pigs. Other attitudes included gender-based issues (2.5%) mainly due to spousal disapproval (men dominated in taking FP decisions in families), whereas other non-users of modern methods (28.2%) feared side-effects. This study was registered with IRB: CMHS/IRB/097/2019. <strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Religious, social, and cultural norms affect FP in rural areas. In order to accelerate FP uptake, men and religious leaders should be targeted as key partners who influence women’s choices.
<strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> In 2012, Rwandan Government has declared family planning (FP) a national priority for poverty reduction and socioeconomic development. However, rural areas still contribute to higher fertility rates. <strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To explore factors to influence FP uptake in rural families. <strong>METHODS:</strong> This study used mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods consisted of two separate surveys. The first survey (quantitative-based cross-sectional design) determined FP use in households while the second survey (qualitative-based design) identified socio-cultural factors which hindered FP uptake in households. In total, 119 households with women in reproductive age (15 - 45) were targeted in rural areas in Western province, Karongi District. The data collected during door-to-door visits using paper-based-questionnaires and administered through interviews. A database mask was designed under OnaCollect, then processed in SPSS software. The results were presented in tables of frequencies, the difference between proportions assessed using Chi-Square-test, the difference between means assessed using t-tests, significance at p = or <0.05, confidence level at 0.95, and a margin error of 0.09. <strong>RESULTS:</strong> Socio-cultural norms influenced no use of contraception (32.8%) or only promoted natural methods (12.6%). Social norms were religious in origin (38.5%) where Christianity (91.8%) discouraged modern methods (viewed as killing children) but encouraged using natural methods, preferably abstinence (73.3%). Cultural norms (17.9%) influenced families to have many children as resources of wealth, evidence of productivity, and a way to decrease parents’ workloads including assisting mothers in home-based activities such as cooking, and assisting fathers in farming activities such as keeping cows, goats and pigs. Other attitudes included gender-based issues (2.5%) mainly due to spousal disapproval (men dominated in taking FP decisions in families), whereas other non-users of modern methods (28.2%) feared side-effects. This study was registered with IRB: CMHS/IRB/097/2019. <strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Religious, social, and cultural norms affect FP in rural areas. In order to accelerate FP uptake, men and religious leaders should be targeted as key partners who influence women’s choices.
作者
Costase Ndayishimiye
Costase Ndayishimiye(Faculty of Medicine, Public Health Sciences (Europubhealth+), Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium)
