Contraception use among Muslim women in Alexandria, Egypt: a descriptive pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20220883Keywords:
Contraception, Emergency contraception, Family planning, AwarenessAbstract
Background: This pilot study aimed to create a questionnaire survey directed to understand knowledge gaps related to contraception among Muslim women in Alexandria, Egypt, so potential interventions could be designed to enable more informed decision-making. The project was a mixed-method, cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey.
Methods: Participants were randomly selected at outpatient clinics at Alexandria university hospitals in September and October 2020. The inclusion criteria were to be an 18 year old or older woman and able to give consent. The recruitment goal for this pilot study was 100 participants. The consented participants were interviewed about demographics, socio-structural and contraception use. The questionnaire was tested using a focus group of 11 women. The study data was collected using KoBoToolbox and exported to the SPSS software for descriptive analysis. The primary outcome was to validate the survey questionnaire and the secondary outcome to assess knowledge regarding contraception methods and emergency contraception.
Results: The age of study participants ranged from 18-60 with a mean of 34 years. Almost all participants had previously heard of various contraceptive methods and 75% used them before. The majority did not know about emergency contraception. Most respondents had a favorable attitude toward family planning, and their primary sources of information were family and friends.
Conclusions: Preliminary findings show that most women knew about contraception methods, though few of them heard of emergency contraception. Because of the patriarchal nature of Egyptian society, family planning education should target the whole population.
References
Hellen JJG. The delivery of family planning services in Egypt with particular reference to population policy and health care planning. Geo J. 1981;5(4):369-84.
Khalifa M, DaVanzo J, Adamson DM. Population growth in Egypt. A continuing policy challenge. Rand Corp. 2000.
Goujon A, AlZalak ZJPS. Why has fertility been increasing in Egypt? Popul Soc. 2018;551(1):1-4.
Etokidem A, W Ndifon 1, J Etowa 2, Asuquo EF. Family planning practices of rural community dwellers in cross River State, Nigeria. 2017. 20(6): p. 707-715.
Ranatunga IDJC, Jayaratne K. Proportion of unplanned pregnancies, their determinants and health outcomes of women delivering at a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):1-15.
Shaheen AA, Diaaeldin M, Chaaya M, Roueiheb ZE. Unintended pregnancy in Egypt: evidence from the national study on women giving birth in 1999. Eastern Mediterranean Health J. 2007;13(6):1392-404.
Legato MJ, Bilezikian JP. Principles of gender-specific medicine. Gulf Professional Publishing; 2004.
WHO. Family planning: a global handbook for providers: evidence-based guidance developed through worldwide collaboration, 2018. Available at: Family planning: a global handbook for providers: evidence-based guidance developed through worldwide collaboration (who.int). Accessed on 22 January 2022.
Ambrosetti E, Angeli A, Novelli MJS. Ideal family size and fertility in Egypt: an overview of recent trends. Demo Res. 2019;79(2):223-44.
Sywelem MMGJAJ. Literacy and adult education in Egypt: achievements and challenges. Am Education Res J. 2015;3(3-7):793-9.
Aithal A, Aithal PJ. Development and validation of survey questionnaire & experimental data-a systematical review-based statistical approach. Qualitatit Soc Res. 2020;5(2):233-51.
Collingridge DS, Gantt MQ. Republished: the quality of qualitative research. Sage J. 2019;34(5):439-45.
Wahba M, Roudi-Fahimi FJPRB. The need for reproductive health education in schools in Egypt. 2012.
Nansseu JRN, Nchinda EC, Katte J, Nchagnouot FM, Nguetsa GD. Assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning among women living in the Mbouda health district, Cameroon. Reprod Health. 2015;12(1):1-7.
Ghazal-Aswad S, Rizk DE, Al-Khoori SM, Shaheen H, Thomas L. Knowledge and practice of contraception in United Arab Emirates women. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2001;27(4):212-6.
Ibrahim ZM, Ahmed MR, Shaban MM. Knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception among health care providers in Ismailia, Egypt. Middle East Fertil Soc J. 2013;18(4):246-52.
Fisher RJ. Social desirability bias and the validity of indirect questioning. J Consum Res. 1993;20(2):303-15.
Offenhauer P, Buchalter AR. Women in Islamic societies: a selected review of social scientific literature. Washington, DC: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress; 2005.