Using contraceptives not only helps to control a woman’s fertility, it also helps her to take control of her life.

Why are many South African women reluctant to use contraceptives?

    • Social norms about sex can make it embarrassing for a woman to discuss contraception with her sexual partner and it often becomes a negotiation between potentially unequal partners when the woman wants to use contraception and her partner is opposed to the idea. Nevertheless, it is imperative that a woman insist on having safe sex and not allow herself to be intimidated by fear of her partner’s reaction.
    • Social norms may create pressure on a couple to produce a child, and gender-based power inequalities generally believe that men should control women’s sexuality and childbearing capacity. When a woman practises family planning, then her partner loses this control; she should therefore reassure her partner that he’ll remain the head of the family and if her partner is also concerned that she’ll become promiscuous or commit adultery, she’ll have to assure him that she’ll remain faithful even if she uses contraceptives.
    • Many young women are embarrassed to admit that they’re planning to have sex but this embarrassment must be overcome to ensure safe sexual behaviour.
    • Some religions forbid contraception.
    • Women are sometimes coerced into having sexual relations. A study from Soweto, Umlazi and Khayelitsha found that fear of losing a partner was the most important barrier to women’s contraceptive use. There is also the fear that rejection will lead to violence. In one study, women who experienced forced sex are 5.8 times more likely to use contraception inconsistently.
    • Become aware of the different safe methods of contraception. In South Africa, women are usually offered sterilisation, IUDs, injections, or oral contraceptives but speak to a healthcare provider about a possible wider choice such as implants that caters for a couple’s specific needs.
    • People (especially men) are often reluctant to use barrier methods, such as condoms, because of the perception that they decrease sexual pleasure, diminish intimacy, waste sperm, are like masturbation or are associated with a loss of virility, but this is not necessarily the case.
    • Women are encouraged to speak to a healthcare provider about how to deal with the possible side-effects of contraceptives.

The Department of Health is concerned that thousands of young girls are having abortions due to a lack of information on contraceptives even though free contraceptives are available at public sector health care facilities.

 

Sources

 

Gready M, Glugman B, Makhosazana X, Bloikanyo E, and Rees H. 1995. Women’s and men’s perspectives on fertility regulation methods and services. Geneva, Nov.
Mash R, Mash B, de Villiers, P. “Why don’t you just use a condom?”: Understanding the motivational tensions in the minds of South African women. Afr J Prm Health Care & Fam Med. 2010;2 (1), Art. No.79, 4–6. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v2i1.79
www.ippf.org

 

Revised by M van Deventer