Women’s Perceptions, Enabling Factors and Barriers to Access and Use of Non-Permanent Contraceptive Methods in Uttar Pradesh, India

Courtney E. Henderson, University of California, Berkeley
Anne Villumsen, University of Copenhagen
Malcolm Potts, University of California, Berkeley

Female sterilization is the predominant form of modern contraceptive use in India, with limited use of non-permanent contraceptive methods for spacing births. This research uses Socio-Ecological Model as its theoretical framework to investigate women’s perceptions, enabling factors, and barriers to the access and use of non-permanent contraceptive methods. Forty-six married women aged 19-49 were interviewed. Women reported a strong desire for spacing children, as well as knowledge of several non-permanent contraceptive methods. Contraceptive information was primarily obtained from the Accredited Social Health Activists. Counseling on potential side effects, family support, and proximity to family planning providers were identified as enabling factors. Barriers to access and use included fear of side effects, gender preference for sons, having to seek permission from family members to use contraception, and religious beliefs that prohibit the use of certain methods. An understanding of these phenomena is critical to development of culturally relevant programs and policies.