Background: Despite efforts to improve access to family planning, contraceptive prevalence remains relatively low among adolescents and youth in Guinea. The objective of this study was to understand the barriers to the use of modern contraceptive methods among urban adolescents and youth 15β24 years in Conakry, Guinea. Methods: This was a qualitative study using an exploratory design.
It was conducted in the capital city of Guinea, Conakry in Respondents included adolescents and youth aged 15β24 years, health care providers, and parents of adolescents and youth. These data were recorded and transcribed, when applicable, from the local languages into French in an anonymous manner. The data were analyzed using a mixed inductive and deductive thematic approach following the elements of the socio-ecological model.
Our analysis indicates various and interrelated barriers that limit the access and use of contraceptives by adolescents and youth. These included the individual fear of side effects, cost, and rumor-related misinformation , interpersonal or family spouse perception and sexuality taboo and perception of sexual activity before marriage , sociocultural religious prohibitions and ethnicity , and health care system breakdown of contraceptive methods in public health facilities, perception of service delivery, provider attitudes, visiting hours, geographic proximity of services, and quality of training received by health care providers barriers.
Conclusion: In our context, the use of modern contraceptive methods by adolescents and youth is influenced by an interaction of various barriers, including individual, interpersonal, sociocultural, and health care system factors. Strengthening contraceptive uptake interventions by involving different stakeholders, including adolescents, parents, religious, and community leaders, and improving the quality of sexual and reproductive health services would help in reducing barriers to contraceptive use among adolescents and youth.
Sexual and reproductive health issues, including unwanted pregnancies, remain a significant public concern in sub-Saharan Africa 1 , 2. At least 10 million of these young people face unwanted pregnancies each year in these countries 3. However, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15β19 worldwide 5 , 6. In , more than million women of childbearing age were using contraceptive methods, and million women worldwide did not have access to contraceptive methods they needed 7 , 8.
