FAQs
Fertility:
“A series of case studies concludes that “overall well-being of women and girls improves as fertility declines, especially as it relates to their maternal health, educational attainment, and workforce participation,” and fertility decline has had a more positive impact on girls’ education than it has had on boys’ education” (Stoebenau et al., 2013: 3).
Tradition:
“One more traditional way to do this is through community group engagement activities typically follow a defined process to identify and respond to perceived local drivers of and barriers to sexual and reproductive health. This approach seeks to maximise broad engagement and to move beyond conversations with decision-makers and leaders to better understand sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of the community. Communication among women about contraception and particular methods is a hugely important diffusion mechanism (Behrman et al. 2002 [Kenya]; Montgomeryt et al., 2001 [Ghana]). Satisfied users will influence friends, family and neighbours to try a method (dissatisfied users the reverse).
Strategy matters:
“Like mass media campaigns, interpersonal communication approaches are used to influence knowledge, attitudes and intentions regarding family planning. Interpersonal communication interventions can be delivered through healthcare or community-based settings. A systematic review of interpersonal communication interventions found that 86% reported improved knowledge and attitudes, 63% of those that measured family planning reported increased family planning use, and over half of those that measured fertility outcomes found a decline in fertility “(Mwaikambo et al., 2011).
Gender:
Male-dominated decision making about fertility preference was associated with lower use of contraceptives in Ethiopia (Berhane et al., 2011). The government recognised this (Manyazewal, 1999). Involving men in family planning discussions was found to increase the uptake of modern contraceptives (Terefe & Larson, 1993). Family planning programmes have shifted away from strictly focusing upon women to working with men individually, and more towards consulting with both partners at the same time