This study aimed at identifying the socio-demographic and service related factors influencing intra uterine contraceptive device (IUD) utilization among family planning clients in Addis Ababa. With a quantitative, cross sectional descriptive design approach, data was collected using structured questionnaires administered by healthcare supervisors. A total of 366 family planning clients and 35 family planning service providers were interviewed. The findings indicated that the level of education, occupation, parity and fertility plan have significant (p<0.05) association with utilization of IUD. Healthcare service provider’s knowledge and skills for provision of intra uterine contraceptive device services were low. Community members lack awareness and knowledge of the benefit and side effects of the device. Therefore, community members need education to promote adherence and effective use of IUD. Similarly, healthcare service providers need skill training and education to ensure quality provision of IUD service / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative, contextual study was conducted to determine pharmacists and drug vendors' level of knowledge, attitude towards and practice on Emergency Contraceptive (ECl in Addis Ababa. Forty licensed service providers in Addis Ababa were randomly selected during 2008 and interviewed using a structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using a computer software package. The findings revealed that although these service providers were knowledgeable on the purpose and dOSing schedule of EC, they lacked knowledge on side-effects, contra-indications, and types of ECs. Most respondents portrayed a subjective attitude towards easy EC access of especially adolescent girls, since they believed that it will encourage promiscuity and unprotected intercourse. Their knowledge and practice need to be improved, as it has a direct effect on potential users and reducing unwanted pregnancies among young. / Health Studies / M.P.H. (Health Sudies)

Background: One in ten people in the U.S. are affected by a substance use disorder (SUD), roughly one third of whom are women. Rates of unintended pregnancy are higher in this population than in the general public. Little is understood about how women with SUD use prescription contraception and think about pregnancy. Methods: By analyzing Medicaid claims data and conducting qualitative interviews with women with SUD, this doctoral thesis seeks to: 1) compare any use of and consistent, continued coverage by prescription contraceptives between women with and without SUD; 2) determine the extent to which SUD is associated with pregnancy, abortion, and adverse feto-maternal outcomes in women who use prescription contraception; and 3) explore facilitators of and barriers to contraceptive utilization by women with SUD, using qualitative interviews. Results: Compared to women without SUD, women with SUD are less likely to use any prescription contraceptive, particularly long-acting reversible methods. Among women who do use long-acting methods, SUD is associated with less continued, consistent coverage by a prescription contraceptive. Among women who use contraception, SUD is also associated with increased odds of abortion. When interviewed, women with SUD report fatalistic attitudes towards pregnancy planning, and have difficulty conceptualizing how susceptibility to pregnancy may change over time. Women with SUD also report that pregnancy has substantial impact on their drug treatment prospects. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine contraceptive utilization by women with SUD who are enrolled in Medicaid or state-subsidized insurance. Our study may help to inform clinical practice and policy development to improve the reproductive health and wellbeing of women with SUD.

The study aimed at assessing the factors influencing the low involvement of men in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programmes in the Mambwe district, Zambia. The factors studied were grouped as knowledge and awareness, socio-cultural, programmatic and demographic characteristics. A quantitative, exploratory study was used and 127 men were interviewed. The major findings were: Knowledge of PMTCT was the strongest factor which was positively associated with the level of men's involvement in PMTCT. Socio-cultural and programmatic factors were found to negatively influence men's involvement (although weakly); and among the demographic characteristics, age and level of education were positively associated with an increase in the level of involvement, while the duration of the relationship with the female partner was negatively associated with the level of men involvement. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 celiaramin_dissert.pdf: 1563079 bytes, checksum: e9ef55e61a9de1a8cc8204aba266c2f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-05-08 / The education of health professionals approaches several aspects such as their social role and care work, research and education; that is, they are educated to give support for all of the individual s needs. For a long time, I have been thinking about the practice of sexuality concepts among nursing students since they have to give instructions of the related issues as familial planning and STD/AIDS prevention; sometimes they are victims of their own setting. This transversal, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative study aimed at investigating among nursing students their knowledge, practice and sources of information on contraceptive methods and STD/AIDS. Moreover, it approaches some aspects of sexual-life practice as well as its consequence. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data. The results showed that the majority of the students had some information on this issue when attending high school period, especially on contraceptive methods as the use of condoms, pills and withdrawal method. AIDS was the most stressed subject among STD. Learning this subject was more effective when they attended graduation period, especially in the 4th grade during the class of Nursing in the Care of Transmitted Diseases. The sources that most contributed for their knowledge were the classes and related reading. They have had little information from their parents on this issue. They reported the initial age of 10 to 13 years recommended to start receiving information on contraceptive methods and STD/AIDS prevention. Condoms and pills are the most effective contraceptive methods according to them. The great majority of them showed a misunderstanding in relation to some contraceptive methods such as condoms and pills playing a role in the prevention of STD. Seventh seven percent of them have just started their sexual life; out of these, 45.7% in the age of 16 to 18 years. The majority of the students stated to know how to prevent STD, however some of them did not make use of this knowledge. The most used contraceptive methods were the combination of pills and condoms, and/or the single use of one of them. Some of them, who made use of pills and other contraceptive methods, without being the condoms, did not care about the risk of STD/AIDS contamination. Behavioral aspect was the greatest constraint between reason/emotion in relation to STD/AIDS prevention and unwanted pregnancy . The approach of this study is to provide better understanding on subjects related to human sexuality for the nursing students, therefore they will be able to work on these themes at hospitals, HBU (Health Basic Units) or at elementary or high schools. Without this learning either their professional activities or their own behavior in relation to sexual issues will be impaired. / A formação dos profissionais da saúde abrange diversos aspectos tais como o seu papel social e assistencial; de pesquisa e de educação, ou seja, são preparados para atender as pessoas em todas as suas necessidades. Há muito, venho refletindo sobre a interiorização dos conceitos sobre a sexualidade entre os acadêmicos de enfermagem, visto que, apesar de transmitirem conhecimentos à clientela sobre temas relativos a planejamento familiar e prevenção de DST/HIV/AIDS, algumas vezes têm sido as vítimas neste contexto.O presente estudo é do tipo transversal, exploratório descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, com o objetivo de investigar o conhecimento, uso e as fontes de informações dos métodos contraceptivos e prevenção de DST/AIDS, além de abranger o estudo de aspectos da vivência sexual e sua conseqüência. Para tanto foi utilizado um questionário semi-estruturado entregue as acadêmicas da 1ª a 4ª série do Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria das acadêmicas referiu ter recebido informações no ensino médio sobre métodos contraceptivos, principalmente sobre preservativos, pílula anticoncepcional e coito interrompido. A AIDS aparece como a DST mais abordada, o aumento do conhecimento ocorreu no decorrer da graduação, firmando-se efetivamente na 4ª série na disciplina de Enfermagem em Doenças Transmissíveis. As acadêmicas referiram como fontes que mais contribuíram as aulas e leituras específicas. A participação dos pais nesta educação foi incipiente. Acreditam que a idade ideal para se iniciar as orientações sobre métodos contraceptivos e DST/HIV/ADS está entre 10 e 13 anos. Citam como métodos contraceptivos mais seguros os preservativos e os anticoncepcionais orais. Há uma distorção e compreensão errônea por parte de muitas acadêmicas, que alguns métodos contraceptivos como os anticoncepcionais orais e injetáveis e o DIU contribuam em muito para a prevenção de DST. Setenta e sete porcento das acadêmicas já iniciaram a vida sexual, destas 45,7% na idade entre 16 e 18 anos. A maioria (97,8%) afirma saber como prevenir DST, porém nem todas fazem uso do conhecimento adquirido. Os métodos contraceptivos mais utilizados são a combinação de anticoncepcionais orais e preservativos, e/ou pelo uso único de um dos dois, sendo que, as que fazem uso somente da pílula e outros métodos que não a utilização do preservativo, se expõem ao risco de contrair DST/HIV/AIDS. A questão comportamental ainda é a maior barreira entre a razão/emoção dificultando a prevenção das DST/AIDS e gravidez não planejada. A abordagem desta pesquisa reside na perspectiva de inserção de estudantes de enfermagem como orientadores de temas relacionados à sexualidade humana, seja em hospitais, ambulatórios, UBS ou escolas do ciclo fundamental e médio. Entende-se que sem este preparo, tanto sua vivência profissional quanto seu comportamento serão prejudicados em relação à questão sexual e a reflexão sobre sua própria sexualidade.

The study aimed at assessing the factors influencing the low involvement of men in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programmes in the Mambwe district, Zambia. The factors studied were grouped as knowledge and awareness, socio-cultural, programmatic and demographic characteristics. A quantitative, exploratory study was used and 127 men were interviewed. The major findings were: Knowledge of PMTCT was the strongest factor which was positively associated with the level of men's involvement in PMTCT. Socio-cultural and programmatic factors were found to negatively influence men's involvement (although weakly); and among the demographic characteristics, age and level of education were positively associated with an increase in the level of involvement, while the duration of the relationship with the female partner was negatively associated with the level of men involvement. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Many religious leaders in the early 1900s were afraid of the immoral associations and repercussions of birth control. The Catholic Church and some Protestants never accepted contraception, or accepted it much later, but many mainline Protestants leaders did change their tune dramatically between the years of 1920 and 1931. This investigation seeks to understand how Margaret Sanger was able to use her rhetoric to move her reform from the leftist outskirts and decadent, sexual connotations into the mainstream of family-friendly, morally virtuous, and even conservative religious approval. Securing the approval of religious leaders subsequently provided the impetus for legal and medical acceptance by the late-1930s. Margaret Sanger used conferences, speeches, articles, her magazine (Birth Control Review), and several books to reinforce her message as she pragmatically shifted from the radical left closer to the center and conservatives. She knew the power of the churches to influence their members, and since the United States population had undeniably a Judeo-Christian base, this power could be harnessed in order to achieve success for the birth control movement, among the conservative medical and political communities and the public at large. Despite the clear consensus against birth control by all mainline Christian churches in 1920, including Roman Catholics and Protestants alike, the decade that followed would bring about a great divide that would continue to widen in successive decades. Sanger put forward many arguments in her works, but the ones which ultimately brought along the relatively conservative religious leaders were those that presented birth control not as a gender equity issue, but rather as a morally constructive reform that had the power to save and strengthen marriages; lessen prostitution and promiscuity; protect the health of women; reduce abortions, infanticide, and infant mortality; and improve the quality of life for children and families. Initially, many conservatives and religious leaders associated the birth control movement with radicals, feminists, prostitutes, and promiscuous youth, and feared contraception would lead to immorality and the deterioration of the family. Without the threat of pregnancy, conservatives feared that youth and even married adults would seize the opportunity to have sex outside of marriage. Others worried the decreasing size of families was a sign of growing selfishness and materialism. In response, Sanger promoted the movement as a way for conservatives to stop the rising divorce rates by strengthening and increasing marriages, and to improve the lives of families by humanely increasing the health and standard of living, for women and children especially. In short, she argued that birth control would not lead to deleterious consequences, but would actually improve family moral values and become an effective humanitarian reform. She recognized that both liberals and conservatives were united in hoping to strengthen the family, and so she emphasized those virtues and actively courted those same conservative religious leaders that had previously shunned birth control and the movement. Throughout the 1920s, she emphasized the ways in which birth control could strengthen marriages and improve the quality of life of women and children, and she effectively won over the relatively conservative religious leaders that she needed to bring about the movement’s public, medical, and political progress.