“Our culture prohibits some things”: Qualitative inquiry into how sociocultural context influences the scale up of community-based injectable contraceptives in Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesTo explore how sociocultural factors may support or impede the adoption of community-based distribution of injectable contraceptives in Nigeria.DesignA qualitative study based on a grounded theory approach was conducted through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.SettingMost participants lived in Gombe State, North East Nigeria. Other participants were from Ibadan (South West) and Abuja (Federal capital territory).ParticipantsThrough seven key informant interviews, 15 in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions, 102 participants were involved in the study.MethodsThis study, conducted in 2016 was part of a larger study on scale up of community-based distribution of injectable contraceptives. Qualitative data were collected from traditional and religious leaders, health workers and community members. The data were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using a thematic framework method.ResultsSociocultural challenges to scale up included patriarchy and men’s fear of losing control over their spouses, traditional and religious beliefs about fertility, and myths about contraceptives and family planning. As a result of deep-rooted beliefs that children are ‘divine blessings’ and that procreation should not be regulated, participants described a subtle resistance to uptake of injectable contraceptives. Since Gombe is largely a patriarchal society, male involvement emerged as important to the success of meaningful innovation uptake. Community leaders largely described their participation in the scale up process as active, although they also identified scope for further involvement and recognition.ConclusionScale up is more than setting up health sector implementing structures, training health workers and getting innovation supplies, but also requires preparedness which includes paying attention to complex contextual issues. This requires the health system and those who work in it, to move beyond a narrow health ‘comfort zone’ by actively engaging with, and learning from, those who are leading, caring for and living in, the community.Strengths and limitations of this studyThe study participants represented a range of stakeholders - users of injectable contraceptives, community members, providers and health system managers.Our results highlighted that scale up is influenced by several socio-cultural factors; thus, showing the importance of paying attention to complex contextual issues during innovation uptake.The findings of our study emphasized how health systems and communities should interact in order to ensure successful scale up of health innovations.As with any qualitative study, the findings of this study are not statistically generalizable.FundingThis research was supported by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA). CARTA is jointly led by the African Population and Health Research Center and the University of the Witwatersrand and funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York (Grant No--B 8606.R02), Sida (Grant No:54100113), the DELTAS Africa Initiative (Grant No: 107768/Z/15/Z) and Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD). The DELTAS Africa Initiative is an independent funding scheme of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS)’s Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) and supported by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) with funding from the Wellcome Trust (UK) and the UK government. The statements made and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors.Declarations of interestNone.