title: Where is the condom? Contraceptive practice in a rural district of South Africa.
abstract: Interviews were conducted with 848 African women aged 15-49 years in a rural area of South Africa to determine the extent to which condoms are used, reasons for contraceptive method choice and unmet contraceptive need. Injectable contraceptives were being used by 22.1% of respondents, who considered them to be convenient, safe, effective, and/or a method that could be used secretly. The decision to use this method was often made on the recommendation of a health worker. Eleven women said they were using the male condom, seven of whom were using it because it provides protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Many (70.3%) women were not using any form of contraception. Counselling about contraceptive options should take into account the need for dual protection, and strategies for increasing condom use should be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Africa Centre for Population Studies and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Health Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. j.smit@rhru.co.za
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McFedyen
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Khangelani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zuma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D012731:Sex Counseling; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013019:South Africa