Supply and demand challenges to modern contraceptive use in Azerbaijan.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a survey of health facilities and household members to determine supply and demand aspects of contraceptive use in Azerbaijan.


METHODS
In June 2005, we conducted interviews with 758 women and 253 men in a community-based survey in 40 communities in five districts. We also surveyed a sample of health facilities and pharmacies and conducted interviews with key informants.


RESULTS
Both men and women in these communities desire small families, yet significant supply and demand impediments exist. Despite community interest, lack of knowledge of contraception is prevalent. Fear of side effects plays a role in non-use and discontinuation of modern methods, although little opportunity exists for counselling on side effects, since few health workers are trained. An obstacle to use is legislation that only allows contraception to be prescribed by gynaecologists, who are mostly concentrated in the hospitals of urban centres. However, the main handicap to increased use of modern contraception, is insufficient contraceptive supply. Not only is there a lack of method choice nationally, but few of the facilities we surveyed had any contraceptives available. This situation threatens to worsen as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) retracts commodities' funding.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of knowledge of modern contraception, lack of trained staff and poor commodity availability signals that much remains to be done for the people of Azerbaijan to achieve their fertility control goals.
Bradley
Janet
J
EngenderHealth, New York, NY 10001, USA. jbradley@engenderhealth.org
Mursagulova
Nabat
N
Nosa
Marianna
M
Searing
Hannah
H
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001382:Azerbaijan; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003906:Developing Countries; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003270:Contraceptive Agents