Attitudes and Cultural Norms around Contraceptive Use among Young Adults of Urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Laili Irani, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ilene S. Speizer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Clare Barrington, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Inadequate evidence exists on the challenges facing urban women in accessing and using family planning (FP). The purpose of this study is to identify perceptions, interpersonal and familial attitudes, and sociocultural norms around contraceptive use among young adults (18-25 years) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs), each with approximately six participants, were conducted from Dec09-Jan10. The groups were based on whether the participants were men/women, recent migrants/long-term inhabitants of Dar es Salaam, and were married/cohabiting or single. The FGD themes centered on reasons for unmet need, factors affecting interpersonal communication between partners, quality of FP services, and norms around HIV/FP integration. Preliminary analysis shows that knowledge of methods and where to access them is known. Differences in attitudes, challenges facing interpersonal communication, and ability to access FP existed across gender and marital status. Very little variation in responses was noted due to migrant status.