title: Determinants of contraceptives use amongst youth: an exploratory study with family planning service providers in Karachi Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Pakistan, Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) among married female youth is 17.4% and even lower in rural and slum areas leading to rapid population growth on one hand and poor health consequences on the other. The study was conducted to explore family planning service providers' perceptions regarding use of different contraceptive methods and to identify factors that are influencing their use amongst currently married youth aged 18-24 years in slum areas of Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative exploratory study design was adopted and a total of ten in-depth interviews were conducted with family planning service providers of the area. For content analysis coding of transcribed interviews was done and then categories were made and furthermore themes were derived.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings revealed that family planning service providers perceived that there is low use of contraceptive methods amongst youth of study area and low usage could be due to side effects; myths and misconceptions; lack of proper knowledge about different contraceptives; unmet needs of contraceptives; socio-cultural and religious factors about different contraceptive methods and family planning service providers own biases against or for use of contraceptive methods amongst youth in the study area. However better education of youth and family planning service providers' improved knowledge about counseling and use of contraceptive methods was perceived to be associated with improved use of family planning methods amongst youth of the study area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exaggerated side effects and socio-cultural factors could be important influences leading to low use of family planning methods amongst youth of Karachi. Some policy initiatives are the training of lady health Workers, lady health visitors, physicians and staff of the pharmacies for counseling youth in the correct use of family planning methods.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Division, Community Health Sciences Department. Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. noureen.aleem@aku.edu
authors.forename: Noureen Aleem
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nishtar
authors.forename: Neelofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sami
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alim
authors.forename: Nousheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Farid Ul
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Hasnain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010154:Pakistan; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult