"I have no choice": Influences on Contraceptive Use and Abortion among Women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This study explored influences on contraceptive use and abortion in the DRC. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 women and 10 healthcare providers in four provinces. Participants were recruited at health centers and households in the study communities. Thematic analysis was used and identified that Congolese women's contraceptive decision-making was shaped by a range of external influences rather than their own independent decisions. Non- autonomous decisions and strict abortion laws influenced the methods used to abort a pregnancy, exposing risks of infection, complication, and fatality. These findings highlight that Congolese women's decisions about their fertility and family planning are constrained by policy and socio-cultural influences. PMID: 31034179 [PubMed - in process]
Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health - Category: African Health Tags: Afr J Reprod Health Source Type: research