Family planning in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District: A follow-up on attitudes and practices

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Background: In 2010, the Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Project demonstrated concerning evidence of unmet family planning needs in the Barkese sub-district in the Ashanti region of Ghana. In 2023, Ghana Health Services requested the study be repeated to understand how the prevalence of abortions, family planning perceptions and methods used by women in this region had changed since 2010. Aim: The aim of this study is to understand how the region's attitudes and behaviours associated with contraception have changed since 2010. Setting: Survey participants were from 10 communities in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District. Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight women participated in a survey with questions adapted from the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Once responses were collected, descriptive analysis was performed to determine trends in the use of contraceptives and reasons against the use of family planning. Results: Seventy-six point 5 per cent of women had used at least one family planning method. Emergency contraception was the most used method ever. One hundred and forty-seven had reproductive potential. Of these women, 47.6% were currently using a method to prevent pregnancy, most commonly the rhythm (calendar) method. When asked about their latest pregnancy, 65.7% were not trying to get pregnant at that time. Fear of side effects was a common reason for avoiding use of contraceptives. Conclusion: Compared to the 2010 study, emergency contraception replaced oral contraceptives as the most ever used method. Fewer women were currently using a method to prevent pregnancy, and unintended pregnancies occurred more frequently. The fear of adverse side effects identified in the 2010 study continues to be a major barrier today. Contribution: This study affirms the persistence of unplanned pregnancies and limited knowledge of contraceptive side effects, indicating the need for comprehensive family planning education.

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