“I Got Peace and Stability”: Women’s Perceptions of Contraceptive Use in Sidama, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Abstract

Most of the documented benefits of contraceptive service lack in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of service users. This study of contraceptive users in the Sidama Zone, Southern Region, Ethiopia; was conducted with the aim of improving the overall understanding of contraceptive use towards women’s health and empowerment. This knowledge enables alignment of contraceptive service provision with the International Conference on Population Development declaration of rights-based approach. The study employed a mixed method design. The quantitative aspects include use of a descriptive retrospective approach to generate a five year snapshot contraceptive use from health institutions. Percentages were used to compute the contraceptive prevalence in the last five years. The bulk of the study was a qualitative design using interpretive phenomenology- guided by a Heideggerian approach. Data were collected using key informant interviews, focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis with hermeneutic circle approach. Results were presented in broad themes following the study questions....