Three papers on side effects and modern contraceptive use among women in Ghana

This thesis investigates the issue of side effects and how they may act as a barrier to<br/>the use of modern contraceptive methods among women in Ghana. Three papers are<br/>presented each addressing the issue using different sources of data and different<br/>methodologies. The disparate nature of the data sources and techniques used<br/>provides each paper with its own perspective on the research question and each<br/>paper gives a unique insight into the topic.<br/><br/>The aim of the first paper is to use a qualitative focus group methodology to explore<br/>in-depth the way individuals perceive information about family planning. The study<br/>seeks to better define what is meant by the term fear of side effect in this particular<br/>social context and to determine on what information and from what sources is this<br/>fear constructed. Overall the findings of this study show that fear of side effects does<br/>act as a significant barrier to the use of temporary methods and these fears result<br/>mainly from a large amount of negative information regarding side effects being<br/>passed through the social network. However the events being recounted cannot be<br/>dismissed as myth or rumour as they are most often based in real experiences.<br/><br/>The second paper uses monthly data on contraceptive use and the experience of side<br/>effects from the calendar section of a longitudinal survey of women in Southern<br/>Ghana. Using life tables and a multi-level logistic discrete-time hazards model this<br/>study analyses contraceptive discontinuation and how it relates to the concurrent<br/>self-reported experience of side effects. The results show that experiencing side<br/>effects is associated with a higher probability of discontinuation of the method and<br/>that counselling from health workers is extremely important in minimizing<br/>discontinuation rates.<br/><br/>The third paper uses a sub-sample of women who are not current contraceptive<br/>users from the 2003 GDHS. The study uses multiple logistic regression to determine<br/>the association between exposure to family planning information, through mass<br/>media and interpersonal channels, and the probability that a respondent will cite fear<br/>of side effects as their main reason for not intending to use a contraceptive method in<br/>the future. The results show that the only family planning communication variable<br/>which does have a significant effect is receiving a message from a health worker<br/>which increases the odds of fear of side effects being the main reason for not<br/>intending to use a method in the future. Overall the socio-economic characteristics of<br/>those not intending to use a method in the future due to a fear of side effects is more<br/>similar to current users than to those who are not intending to use in the future for<br/>other reasons.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Ph.D.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Southampton

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Bailey, Claire Elizabeth

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Matthews, Zoe