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AbstractEstimated use of emergency contraception (EC) remains low, and one reason is measurement challenges. The study aims to compare EC use estimates using five approaches. Data come from Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 surveys from 10 countries, representative sample surveys of women aged 15 to 49 years. We explore EC use employing the five definitions and calculate absolute differences between a reference definition (percentage of women currently using EC as the most effective method) and each of the subsequent four, including the most inclusive (percentage of women having used EC in the past year). Across the 17 geographies, estimated use varies greatly by definition and EC use employing the most inclusive definition is statistically significantly higher than the reference estimate. Impact of using various definitions is most pronounced among unmarried sexually active women. The conventional definition of EC use likely underestimates the magnitude of EC use, which has unique programmatic implications.

AbstractThe lack of validated, cross‐cultural measures for examining quality of contraceptive counseling compromises progress toward improved services. We tested the validity and reliability of the 10‐item Quality of Contraceptive Counseling scale (QCC‐10) and its association with continued protection from unintended pregnancy and person‐centered outcomes using longitudinal data from women aged 15–49 in Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Nigeria. Psychometric analysis showed moderate‐to‐strong reliability (alphas: 0.73–0.91) and high convergent validity with greatest service satisfaction. At follow‐up, QCC‐10 scores were not associated with continued pregnancy protection but were linked to contraceptive informational needs being met among Burkinabe and Kenyan women; the reverse was true in Kano. Higher QCC‐10 scores were also associated with care‐seeking among Kenyan women experiencing side effects. The QCC‐10 is a validated scale for assessing quality of contraceptive counseling across diverse contexts. Future work is needed to improve understanding of how the QCC‐10 relates to person‐centered measures of reproductive health.

AbstractThe belief that contraceptive use causes infertility has been documented across sub‐Saharan Africa, but its quantitative association with actual contraceptive use has not been examined. We collected and analyzed sociocentric network data covering 74 percent of the population in two villages in rural Kenya. We asked respondents to nominate people from their village (their network), and then we matched their network (alters) to the individual participant (ego) to understand how their beliefs and behaviors differ. We asked about contraceptive use and level of agreement with a statement about contraceptive use causing infertility. We calculated the average nominated network contraceptive use score and the average nominated network belief score. Holding the individual belief that contraceptive use causes infertility was associated with lower odds of using contraceptive (AOR = 0.82, p = < 0.01); however, when one's own nominated network connections held this belief, the odds of using contraceptive were even lower (AOR = 0.75, p <0.01). Our findings show that this belief is associated with lower odds of contraceptive use and highlights the role that other people in one's network play in reinforcing it. Sexual and reproductive health programs should address this misperception at the individual and social network level.

AbstractA common reason for nonuse of modern contraceptives is concern about side effects and health complications. This article provides a detailed characterization of the belief that modern contraceptives cause infertility, and an examination of how this belief arises and spreads, and why it is so salient. We conducted focus group discussions and key informant interviews in three rural communities along Kenya's eastern coast, and identified the following themes: (1) the belief that using modern contraception at a young age or before childbirth can make women infertile is widespread; (2) according to this belief, the most commonly used methods in the community were linked to infertility; (3) when women observe other women who cannot get pregnant after using modern contraceptives, they attribute the infertility to the use of contraception; (4) within the communities, the primary goal of marriage is childbirth and thus community approval is rigidly tied to childbearing; and, therefore (5) the social consequences of infertility are devastating. These findings may help inform the design of programs to address this belief and reduce unmet need.

BACKGROUND: Although hindrances to the sexual and reproductive health of women are expected because of COVID-19, the actual effect of the pandemic on contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy risk in women, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, remains largely unknown. We aimed to examine population-level changes in the need for and use of contraception by women during the COVID-19 pandemic, determine if these changes differed by sociodemographic characteristics, and compare observed changes during the COVID-19 pandemic with trends in the 2 preceding years. METHODS: In this study, we used four rounds of Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) population-based survey data collected in four geographies: two at the country level (Burkina Faso and Kenya) and two at the subnational level (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lagos, Nigeria). These geographies were selected for this study as they completed surveys immediately before the onset of COVID-19 and implemented a follow-up specific to COVID-19. The first round comprised the baseline PMA panel survey implemented between November, 2019, and February, 2020 (referred to as baseline). The second round comprised telephone-based follow-up surveys between May 28 and July 20, 2020 (referred to as COVID-19 follow-up). The third and fourth rounds comprised two previous cross-sectional survey rounds implemented in the same geographies between 2017 and 2019. FINDINGS: Our analyses were restricted to 7245 women in union (married or living with a partner, as if married) who were interviewed at baseline and COVID-19 follow-up. The proportion of women in need of contraception significantly increased in Lagos only, by 5·81 percentage points (from 74·5% to 80·3%). Contraceptive use among women in need increased significantly in the two rural geographies, with a 17·37 percentage point increase in rural Burkina Faso (30·7% to 48·1%) and a 7·35 percentage point increase in rural Kenya (71·6% to 78·9%). These overall trends mask several distinct patterns by ...

AbstractThe consistency of self‐reported contraceptive use over short periods of time is important for understanding measurement reliability. We assess the consistency of and change in contraceptive use using longitudinal data from 9,390 urban female clients interviewed in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. Clients were interviewed in‐person at a health facility and four to six months later by phone. We compared reports of contraceptive use at baseline with recall of baseline contraceptive use at follow‐up. Agreement between these measures ranged from 59.1 percent in DR Congo to 84.4 percent in India. Change in both contraceptive method type (sterilization, long‐acting, short‐acting, nonuse) and use status (user, nonuser, discontinuer, adopter, switcher) was assessed comparing baseline to follow‐up reports and retrospective versus current reports within the follow‐up survey. More change in use was observed with panel reporting than within the cross section. The percent agreement between the two scenarios of change ranged from 64.8 percent in DR Congo to 84.5 percent in India, with cross‐site variation. Consistently reported change in use status was highest for nonusers, followed by users, discontinuers, adopters, and switchers. Inconsistency in self‐reported contraceptive use, even over four to six months, was nontrivial, indicating that studying measurement reliability of contraceptive use remains important.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to address bias in contraception efficacy studies through a randomized study trial of intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), a copper intrauterine device (IUDs) and a levonorgestrel (LNG) implant. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed data from the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes Trial, which assessed HIV incidence among 7829 women from 12 sites in eSwatini, Kenya, South Africa and Zambia seeking effective contraception and who consented to be randomized to DMPA-IM, copper IUD or LNG implant. We used Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for condom use to compare pregnancy incidence during both perfect and typical (i.e., allowing temporary interruptions) use. RESULTS: A total of 7710 women contributed to this analysis. Seventy pregnancies occurred during perfect and 85 during typical use. There was no statistically significant difference in perfect use pregnancy incidence among the methods: 0.61 per 100 woman-years for DMPA-IM [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36–0.96], 1.06 for copper IUD (95% CI 0.72–1.50) and 0.63 for LNG implants (95% CI 0.39–0.96). Typical use pregnancy rates were also largely similar: 0.87 per 100 woman-years for DMPA-IM (95% CI 0.58–1.25), 1.11 for copper IUD (95% CI 0.77–1.54) and 0.63 for LNG implants (95% CI 0.39–0.96). CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized trial of highly effective contraceptive methods among African women, both perfect and typical use resulted in low pregnancy rates. Our findings provide strong justification for improving access to a broader range of longer-acting contraceptive options including LNG implants and copper IUD for African women. ; The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency as part of the EDCTP2 program supported by the European Union, the South African Medical Research Council and the United Nations Population Fund. Contraceptive supplies were donated by the Government of South Africa and ...