Struggling with long-time low uptake of modern contraceptives in Pakistan

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Nasim Zahid Shah,¹ Tazeen Ali,² Imtiaz Jehan³ and Xaher Gul⁴

¹Center of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. ²School of Nursing and Midwifery and Community Health Sciences Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. ³Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. ⁴Technical Services Department Marie Stope Society, Karachi, Pakistan. (Correspondence to: Nasim Zahid Shah: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Abstract

Background: Efforts to expand access to reproductive health care in Pakistan date as far back as the early 1950s. Despite such efforts, the fertility rate has declined at a slower pace compared to that in neighbouring countries.

Aims: To explore the underlying reasons and challenges for long-time low contraceptive use among female clients and key service providers of community-based family planning programmes in Pakistan.

Methods: A qualitative study was carried out with a total of 10 focus group discussions and 7 in-depth interviews with female clients and key service providers. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results: The intra-family dynamics, that is, influence of husbands and mothers-in-law, were significant in shaping the decision-making and choice of family planning methods. In addition, inadequate counselling skills, insufficient training for service providers, weak supportive supervision, interrupted supply of contraceptives, and delays in salary disbursement were among the key family planning programme challenges.

Conclusion: Despite a well-designed community-based FP programme, providers’ counselling skills need to be enhanced. However, this has to be combined with sufficient training, supportive supervision and contraceptive availability.

Keywords: lady health worker programme, family planning, contraceptives, sexual health, reproductive health

Citation: Shah NZ; Ali TS; Jehan I; Gul X. Struggling with Long-time issue of low uptake of modern contraceptives in Pakistan. East Mediterr Health J. 2020;26(3):294–300. https://doi.org/10.26719/emhj.19.043

Received: 06/01/18; accepted: 04/07/18

Copyright © World Health Organization (WHO) 2020. Open Access. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo).

Introduction

On average, women in low- and middle-income countries have more pregnancies than women in high-income countries have, therefore increasing their lifetime risk of death due to pregnancy-related complications (1). An estimated 303 000 women lost their lives during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2015 and one third of these deaths were reported in South Asia (2). This statistic reflects disparities in access to reproductive health care (RHC) – considered an essential human right – among low- and middle-income countries and is possibly due to inadequate RHC provision or underutilization (3).

In order to reduce this rate of maternal mortality, the Safe Motherhood Initiative (a primary component of RHC) has identified family planning (FP) as 1 of the 4 pillars of the initiative, along with antenatal care, postnatal care and safe delivery (4). Family planning is a substantive and effective primary prevention strategy for reducing maternal mortality by decreasing chances of unwanted pregnancies, lowering fertility (5–8) and lowering exposure to pregnancy-associated complications, thereby improving overall RHC (4). As part of FP, the use of contraceptives is considered a cost-effective developmental intervention to accelerate progress across 5 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (9). Despite an increasingly well-recognized and far-reaching impact of FP, the use of modern contraceptives remains low in many low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan (10).

The current population of Pakistan is 184.5 million and has an annual growth rate of 2%; it is projected that by 2050, Pakistan will become the fifth most populous country in the world (11). Despite 6 decades of government and private sector RHC initiatives, Pakistan has one of the highest fertility rates and lowest contraceptive use rates among all of its neighbours (12). The average contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in South Asian countries is 53% (2013), and Pakistan has the lowest rate at 35% (Table 1) (13).

The provision of family planning services and counselling to clients is a major task assigned to lady health workers (LHWs) of the National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care commonly known as the Lady Health Worker Programme (LHWP), and is the largest community-based public sector RHC initiative serving 60–70% of women in remote and rural populations (14). The recent fourth external evaluation (Oxford Policy Management 2009) of the programme has, however, identified only marginal improvement (33–34%) in CPR across the country, having increased only by 1% (15). Figures from the current Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2012–2013 indicate that knowledge about FP among women of reproductive age remains universal, that is, 99%, with a slight increase of CPR from 30 to 35%. The overall demand for FP is 70% with persistent unmet need. Although the Pakistani Government remains the major provider of contraceptive methods, only 10% of users obtain their contraception from LHWs (11).

Progress towards accomplishing Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to increase CPR to 55% by 2015 remained unachievable for Pakistan. Given this context of modest increase in CPR and high fertility rate in Pakistan, this study explored the reasons for low utilization of modern contraceptives among both end users and service providers [LHWs and lady health supervisors (LHSs)] of the LHWP, and suggested feasible strategies to overcome the issues identified.

Methods

Study design and setting

This qualitative study was carried out from July to September 2013 in urban settings of Korangi District in Karachi. With ~20 million inhabitants, Karachi is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in Pakistan (16). The study participants were selected through purposive sampling from Korangi and Shah Faisal Towns, which are covered by the LHWP.

Study participants and data collection

The study participants were divided into 2 groups: (1) registered married women of reproductive age (15–45 years) residing in the study area for > 1 year and seeking FP services from the LHWP; and (2) LHSs and LHWs who have been working under the LHWP for > 1 year and providing FP services in the study area. The data were collected mainly through 3 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with registered women, 7 FGDs with LHWs and 7 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with LHSs. The interviews lasted for 45–60 minutes and each FGD comprised 6–8 participants.

Data analysis

The discussions were audio recorded, then transcribed verbatim for qualitative content analysis. The codes were grouped into categories and similar categories were finally merged leading to main themes.

Ethical considerations

Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Ethical Review Committee of the Aga Khan University, Karachi, and provincial and district programme implementation units of the LHWP.

Results

The results of our qualitative study fell under two major themes: (1) low uptake of modern contraceptives from the female perspective; and (2) understanding the reasons for low uptake of modern contraceptives from the service providers’ point of view.

Low uptake of modern contraceptives from the female perspective

Most FP clients reported a positive impression about the use of temporary methods of contraception. They are more inclined towards use of condoms as the preferred choice, mainly because they describe them as easy to use, readily available, having fewer side effects, and satisfying their partner. The use of other temporary methods reported by the clients include injections, pills and intrauterine contraceptive devices.

“We use condoms. There are many benefits with them and no side effects. There is nothing bad. My health is good and my husband’s health is also good.”

Fear of side effects of contraceptives is reported as a challenge by female clients and may cause them to discontinue their use or switch to other methods with fewer side effects. The main side effects as mentioned by the clients included menstrual irregularities, palpitations, headaches, and weight gain.

“Initially I was taking pills, and then I developed problems like palpitations, headache, nausea and stomach upset. I did not find pills comfortable to use and therefore stopped. Since then, I have used condoms and I feel satisfied, and my husband is also happy.”

Spousal approval was reported as significant in determining the use of contraceptives, as emphasized by female clients. It was mainly due to lack of approval or willingness of husbands that women faced difficulty, despite their need. Besides spousal agreement and willingness, the influence of mothers-in-law was described as another social barrier affecting the family planning decision-making process. This influence was reported more in families where the husband was the only child and where more female children were born.

“My sister-in-law is not using family planning because her husband is not willing to use it. At present she has 5 children including 1 male child. The husband has a desire for more sons. To fulfil his desire, she already gave birth to 4 daughters.”

“I am a mother of 6, every child born with a gap of 1.5 years. My husband is the only son and my mother-in-law forces me not to take any tablets or anything related to FP. She keeps a close watch.”

Understanding reasons for low uptake of modern contraceptives from the perspective of service providers

Community level

Similar to the accounts of female clients, those of service providers (LHWs and LHSs) also revealed a high uptake of condoms (despite high failure rates) followed by pills and injections. They described condoms as safe, easy to use and with the added advantage of providing protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Also, at the household level, as explained by female clients, the influence of the husband and mother-in-law was considered significant in shaping family planning decision-making by couples. In most instances it was the wife who was struggling hard for FP, while the husband seemed less motivated. It was because of the lack of agreement and involvement of the husband that some of the women even used contraceptives without the knowledge of their husband and mother-in-law. Furthermore, in certain tribes the mother-in-law still believed in large families and wished her son to follow in the same manner.

“The cooperation and willingness of husbands is important for successful practice of family planning. The husband is rigid and difficult to deal with at times, and in that situation women face problems. If the husband is cooperative then it becomes easier for wives to practice family planning.”

“I visit 2 of my clients when the mothers-in-law are away from home. Because the mothers-in-law do not want them [daughters-in-law] to use contraception.”

The service providers emphasized counselling to family planning clients as a major task assigned to LHWs but in practice counselling was not provided to couples, but involved female clients only. In a society less open to talk about issues like family planning, the service providers described it as difficult to provide counselling to men. However, they stressed effective engagement of men during counselling and decision-making because men require more awareness of their role for better uptake of contraceptives. The sehat (health) committee at village level included male members, but their primary focus was on general health issues. The service providers stressed that in, addition to creating awareness on primary health issues, they should also address issues like FP, especially for men.

“Similarly, male members of the sehat committee should work with us. They may conduct continuous meeting with husbands or at least once a month to create awareness for FP. This will be helpful in counselling men as we mostly counsel women but not men.”

Revisions in curriculum and refresher training

The participants mentioned that there were instances when the LHWs felt less capable to satisfy clients. For example, when the clients enquired more information about FP than the LHWs had already shared. To be more confident and able to satisfy clients, participants urged revisions to existing curricula, with inclusion of recent research and methods along with locally appropriate communication strategies to enhance knowledge and counselling skills of LHWs, focusing on creating more awareness among men regarding use and benefits of family planning. They further expressed their dissatisfaction on frequency and quality of training sessions being held. Generally, LHSs conducted classroom sessions with the purpose of revision of certain topics. Since LHSs have limited information, qualification and skills, it was suggested to involve qualified trainers for conducting training for LHWs and LHSs.

“I think in this changing context, the current curriculum is not sufficient for us as we have confined our clients mostly to condom use only.”

“Our curriculum needs revision with updated information and new research. The focus should be on providing adequate knowledge/information to men and women and motivating clients to use family planning.”

“I joined the programme in 1994 and received training from trainers who were experts in the field. They taught us everything in such a way that we became ‘half doctors’. If frequent and expert training is done, we can achieve 90–95% positive results.”

Inadequate supervision and oversight

Generally, LHWs agreed that LHSs are supportive, while few mentioned that LHWP should discourage induction of young LHSs with less field experience. For better performance of LHWs, the LHSs should also be evaluated on a regular basis for their supervisory and monitoring skills. Previously, the district and regional coordinators of the programme used to have field visits, but the current programme structure lacked a regular system for supportive supervision of LHSs. If included, this would encourage service providers to execute quality work, with increased sense of responsibility and accountability.

“If LHSs think that they may have surprise visits from higher authorities, then they [LHS] will deliver the job with more sense of accountability and responsibility. In this way, they will be held answerable for performance of their LHWs.”

Supply shortages and failures

Nonavailability of medicines,family planning supplies and stationary items was reported as a chronic issue in the past few years, and frequent medicine and supply failures were reported by most of the LHWs. The most commonly used contraceptives were condoms, but LHWs stressed that the quantity of condoms provided was insufficient to meet demand. This has resulted in increased pregnancies, for which the community blamed LHWs.

“The supplies are not sufficient for the whole community. For example, we get a low supply of condoms. If we can just have a proper supply of condoms only, this will help us a lot.”

Overall low motivation level of LHWs and LHSs

Frequent delays in salary disbursement and low job security were the main reasons reported for demotivation and eventually underperformance by LHWs and LHSs. It was difficult to meet household expenses with such low and frequently delayed incentives, especially for those who were sole bread winners (widows or divorced). Even after the decision by the authorities to make LHWs a permanent cadre, the service providers were still waiting for implementation of the orders.

“It was in 2012 when the Court declared LHWs as a permanent cadre with increased salary, to be paid with arrears. However, to date, we do not have written proof of whether we are permanent or not. The Court’s orders should be carried out quickly as there is no implementation on the ground.”

Discussion

There is a great sense of encouragement demonstrated by female clients towards use of contraceptives. Regardless of fear of side effects and other barriers, they are still inclined to practice family planning. In contrast, despite having a country-wide family planning programme, the intra-family dynamics (influence of husband and mother-in-law) are acknowledged as significant in shaping the decision-making and choice of family planning methods. The opportunity to discuss the use of contraceptives with their husband not only empowers wives but also affects maternal and child health outcomes in the long run. Therefore, spousal concordance and communication are key for effective uptake of contraceptives – a finding supported by existing literature (17–21).

The influence of the mother-in-law is still voiced as a challenge at the household level. The underlying reason is considered to be rooted in different mind sets within the family dynamics such as: (1) mothers-in-law who were less inclined to use family planning themselves tend to influence their sons and daughters-in-law to do likewise; (2) if the husband is the only son; and (3) families in which there is a desire for a son due to the birth of more daughters. Our findings are consistent with previous studies in Pakistan and neighbouring countries (22,23).

Counselling is one of the key components of the FP programme and affects the knowledge, use and spousal communication for use of contraceptives (24,25). Although counselling is reported to be the major task performed by LHWs, it is only for female clients without involvement of their husbands. Male engagement in counselling is an area not effectively addressed by the current programme structure. It can be ensured through revitalization and involvement of male members of existing health committees, and by conducting awareness sessions for men regarding family planning. This significant finding is supported by available evidence from other low- and middle-income countries (26,27) where male engagement in counselling increases uptake of contraceptives by creating awareness of methods, services (28,29) and improving spousal communication for method preference (30,31). In comparison to no counselling, couple counselling reported a 54% increase in uptake of contraceptives in a recent randomized control trial conducted in another Muslim country, Jordan (28).

Insufficient curricular revisions and trainings to service providers, weak supportive supervision, interrupted flow of FP commodities and delayed salary disbursements are other key programme areas not sufficiently addressed by the LHWP. These findings are supported by a recent external evaluation of the LHWP, which highlighted key programme impediments to be seriously addressed (32). Despite the current low strength of LHWs, there is a significant community acceptance of LHWs since they have demonstrated potential to deliver services.

Therefore, appropriate curricular revision, shifting from theory to a more practical approach and addition of effective interpersonal communication skills can better equip service providers for counselling clients. In-service training and professional development are important contributors towards maintenance of competencies for delivery of quality services by community workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries (33). This can be achieved with appropriate modifications to delivery and design of in-service training with revisions to curricula, and overall assessment of performance (14,33). Simultaneously, effective supervision by LHSs through improved skills assessment, feedback and reinforced regular supervisory visits, along with good district management practices for timely availability of supplies and salaries, are important for improving overall productivity of service providers and hence uptake of modern contraceptives. When supply of essential commodities is disrupted, not only will the productivity of LHWs decrease, but there may be other consequences such as losing respect from the community, without which the desired tasks cannot be executed.

The criteria of Lincoln and Guba were followed in order to achieve trustworthiness of the study (34). Credibility was obtained by selection of appropriate participants, context, interview guides for FGDs and IDIs, and by choosing representative quotations from the transcriptions. Dependability was assured by conducting the FGDs and IDIs over a period of 1 month, so that phenomena under study would not change in the communities. All the FGDs and IDIs were conducted in the local language and moderated by researchers well versed in language and context. Conformability was achieved by separate coding of teams followed by discussion on similarities and dissimilarities.

Our analysis suggests a comprehensive and integrated approach involving individual, community and management level stakeholders in order to address the challenges identified by the study participants, for enhanced uptake of modern contraceptives in the LHWP.

The LHWs play a pivotal role in the healthcare system in Pakistan. There is strong potential to enhance counselling and interpersonal communication skills of LHWs and LHSs – a major contributing factor for acceptance and practice of family planning. It is the basic right of couples to decide freely the number and birth spacing of their children. Thus, effective counselling and communication are the way to provide adequate information, education and the means to do so.

Since family planning/birth-spacing choices are more often decided by couples rather than women alone, revitalization of the health committees at community level is strongly needed to promote effective male engagement in RHC initiatives designed to improve women and child health and particularly family planning services. Integrated and well-targeted behavioural change communication activities and community mobilization/awareness campaigns can help address sociocultural issues and misconceptions about contraceptive use. This has a considerable positive impact on awareness and acceptability of family planning among community members as part of efforts to create demand. Moreover, the involvement of relevant stakeholders, such as community leaders, religious clerics and health activists in the health committees and various behavioural change communication modalities, will lead to substantial community ownership.

The above has to be combined with strategies to strengthen the existing programme structure, such as adequate and periodic needs-based assessment of LHWs and LHSs, sufficient training, and effective supportive supervision (both technical and supervisory) of LHSs. Furthermore, giving greater financial control to district health departments with oversight by provincial level stakeholders could potentially improve availability of funds for salaries, supplies and stationary. Lastly, a significant period of time has elapsed since the last evaluation (32), therefore, re-evaluation of the LHWP may be carried out in order to track the progress and shortcomings.

Acknowledgment

We thank the Provincial and District Programme Implementation Units of the LHWP in Hyderabad and Karachi, and the participants of this study for their valuable time and contribution.

Funding: None.

Competing interests: None Difficultés liées à la faible utilisation prolongée des méthodes de contraception

Difficultés liées à la faible utilisation prolongée des méthodes de contraception modernes au Pakistan 

Résumé

Contexte : Les efforts pour élargir l’accès aux soins de santé génésique au Pakistan remontent au début des années 1950. En dépit de ces efforts, le taux de fécondité a baissé à un rythme plus lent que celui des pays voisins.

Objectifs : Étudier les raisons et les difficultés sous-jacentes expliquant la faible utilisation prolongée des contraceptifs par les clientes et les principaux prestataires des programmes de planification familiale à base communautaire.

Méthodes : Une étude qualitative a été réalisée au moyen d’un total de dix discussions thématiques de groupe et de sept entretiens approfondis avec des clientes et les principaux prestataires de services. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant une analyse de contenu qualitative.

Résultats : Les dynamiques intrafamiliales, à savoir l’influence des maris et des belles-mères, jouaient un rôle déterminant dans la prise de décision et le choix relatifs aux méthodes de planification familiale. De plus, les compétences de conseil inadéquates, la formation insuffisante des prestataires de services, le faible degré d’encadrement bienveillant, l’interruption de l’approvisionnement en contraceptifs et les retards dans le versement des salaires faisaient partie des principales difficultés liées aux programmes de planification familiale.

Conclusions : Malgré un programme de planification familiale à base communautaire bien pensé, les compétences de conseil des prestataires doivent être améliorées. En outre, il importe qu’elles soient associées à une formation adéquate, un encadrement bienveillant et une meilleure disponibilité des contraceptifs.

declared.

مكافحة انخفاض استعمال وسائل منع الحمل الحديثة فترةً طويلةً في باكستان

نسيم زاهد شاه، تزين علي، امتياز جيهان، زاهر جول

الخلاصة

الخلفية: تعود جهود التوسع في إتاحة الرعاية الصحية الإنجابية في باكستان إلى أوائل الخمسينيات من القرن الماضي. وعلى الرغم من هذه الجهود، فإن معدل الخصوبة قد انخفض بوتيرة أبطأ، مقارنةً بما حدث في البلدان المجاورة.

الأهداف: هدفت الدراسة إلى استكشاف الأسباب والتحديات المتعلقة بانخفاض استعمال وسائل منع الحمل فترةً طويلةً على مستوى العملاء الإناث، ومقدمي الخدمات الأساسية للبرامج المُجتمعية المعنية بتنظيم الأسرة في باكستان.

طرق البحث: أُجريت دراسة كيفية من خلال عقد مناقشات ضمن 10 مجموعات بؤرية، وعقد 7 مقابلات مُعمقة مع العملاء الإناث ومقدمي الخدمات الأساسية. وخضعت البيانات للتحليل باستخدام تحليل المحتوى النوعي.

النتائج: كان للديناميات الأسرية، أي تأثير الأزواج والحموات، دورٌ أساسيٌّ في تشكيل عملية صنع القرار واختيار وسائل تنظيم الأسرة. وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، فإن هناك مجموعة من التحديات التي يواجهها برنامج تنظيم الأسرة، مثل: قصور المهارات الإرشادية، وعدم توافر التدريب الكافي لمقدمي الخدمات، وضعف الإشراف الداعم، وعدم توافر وسائل منع الحمل باستمرار، وتأخُّر صرف المرتبات.

الاستنتاجات: على الرغم من جودة تصميم البرنامج المُجتمعي لتنظيم الأسرة، فإنه يلزم تحسين المهارات الإرشادية لمقدمي الخدمة. ولكن، ينبغي أن يكون ذلك جنباً إلى جنب مع التدريب الكافي، والإشراف الداعم، وتوافُر وسائل منع الحمل.

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