Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe
IntroductionUnintended pregnancy is a global public health challenge. Many contraceptive methods are available to end users, but non-use and discontinuation due to health concerns or side effects, particularly related to unpredictable or undesirable menstrual bleeding, are common. Oral contraceptive...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1433189/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850240516654891008 |
|---|---|
| author | Moushira El-Sahn Rose Elliott Trisha Wood Santos Mona El-Sahn Jeff Lucas |
| author_facet | Moushira El-Sahn Rose Elliott Trisha Wood Santos Mona El-Sahn Jeff Lucas |
| author_sort | Moushira El-Sahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionUnintended pregnancy is a global public health challenge. Many contraceptive methods are available to end users, but non-use and discontinuation due to health concerns or side effects, particularly related to unpredictable or undesirable menstrual bleeding, are common. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) often have regular bleeding patterns compared to other hormonal contraceptives but require daily adherence. To address the issues of bleeding-related side effects and daily adherence, researchers are developing a monthly oral contraceptive (MOC) containing the same hormones as common OCPs. We studied women's and healthcare providers’ (HCPs’) perceptions of the MOC technology with the primary goal of providing feedback on product attributes to inform early design decisions.MethodsOur study consisted of a qualitative phase with in-person in-depth interviews (IDIs) with a total of 60 women of reproductive age in three regions in three countries (Bangladesh, Senegal, and Zimbabwe) and quantitative surveys, which took place after the qualitative phase, via face-to-face computer-assisted interviews of a total of 1,825 women in 17 regions in these three countries. We conducted 96 IDIs and 632 quantitative interviews with HCPs in one urban area per country.ResultsWomen's and HCPs’ perceptions of MOC product attributes were assessed and included a focus on potential menstrual changes and possible reasons for discontinuation. Overall, the most appealing attribute of an MOC was its 1-month duration. Women and HCPs alike preferred regular, monthly menstruation. Any unpredictable or irregular bleeding, including heavy bleeding or amenorrhea, would be a reason to discontinue an MOC if it were to have those attributes.DiscussionOverall, an MOC has a high and broad level of appeal amongst all the groups of women and HCPs who participated in the study and has a strong value proposition for important contraceptive needs including convenient duration, ease of use, discretion, and acceptable side effects. This appeal assumes that the experience of using an MOC would be very similar to that of daily OCPs except for dose timing. Future research on a hormonal MOC should include an exploration of women's tolerance and acceptability of potential side effects, particularly regarding bleeding, to validate its value proposition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8c58bc5dbf6d4bb5b70ff0b22a423c53 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-8c58bc5dbf6d4bb5b70ff0b22a423c532025-08-20T02:00:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592024-12-01510.3389/fgwh.2024.14331891433189Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and ZimbabweMoushira El-Sahn0Rose Elliott1Trisha Wood Santos2Mona El-Sahn3Jeff Lucas4Routes2Results, Sevenoaks, United KingdomRoutes2Results, Aberdeen, United KingdomTrisha Wood Santos Consulting, LLC, Seattle, WA, United StatesRoutes2Results, London, United KingdomRoutes2Results, London, United KingdomIntroductionUnintended pregnancy is a global public health challenge. Many contraceptive methods are available to end users, but non-use and discontinuation due to health concerns or side effects, particularly related to unpredictable or undesirable menstrual bleeding, are common. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) often have regular bleeding patterns compared to other hormonal contraceptives but require daily adherence. To address the issues of bleeding-related side effects and daily adherence, researchers are developing a monthly oral contraceptive (MOC) containing the same hormones as common OCPs. We studied women's and healthcare providers’ (HCPs’) perceptions of the MOC technology with the primary goal of providing feedback on product attributes to inform early design decisions.MethodsOur study consisted of a qualitative phase with in-person in-depth interviews (IDIs) with a total of 60 women of reproductive age in three regions in three countries (Bangladesh, Senegal, and Zimbabwe) and quantitative surveys, which took place after the qualitative phase, via face-to-face computer-assisted interviews of a total of 1,825 women in 17 regions in these three countries. We conducted 96 IDIs and 632 quantitative interviews with HCPs in one urban area per country.ResultsWomen's and HCPs’ perceptions of MOC product attributes were assessed and included a focus on potential menstrual changes and possible reasons for discontinuation. Overall, the most appealing attribute of an MOC was its 1-month duration. Women and HCPs alike preferred regular, monthly menstruation. Any unpredictable or irregular bleeding, including heavy bleeding or amenorrhea, would be a reason to discontinue an MOC if it were to have those attributes.DiscussionOverall, an MOC has a high and broad level of appeal amongst all the groups of women and HCPs who participated in the study and has a strong value proposition for important contraceptive needs including convenient duration, ease of use, discretion, and acceptable side effects. This appeal assumes that the experience of using an MOC would be very similar to that of daily OCPs except for dose timing. Future research on a hormonal MOC should include an exploration of women's tolerance and acceptability of potential side effects, particularly regarding bleeding, to validate its value proposition.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1433189/fullfamily planningacceptabilitypreferencescontraceptives in developmentAfricaAsia |
| spellingShingle | Moushira El-Sahn Rose Elliott Trisha Wood Santos Mona El-Sahn Jeff Lucas Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe Frontiers in Global Women's Health family planning acceptability preferences contraceptives in development Africa Asia |
| title | Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Social and behavioral research with end-users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in Bangladesh, Senegal and Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | social and behavioral research with end users and healthcare providers into understanding perceptions of and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule in bangladesh senegal and zimbabwe |
| topic | family planning acceptability preferences contraceptives in development Africa Asia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1433189/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moushiraelsahn socialandbehavioralresearchwithendusersandhealthcareprovidersintounderstandingperceptionsofandreactionstoamonthlyoralcontraceptivecapsuleinbangladeshsenegalandzimbabwe AT roseelliott socialandbehavioralresearchwithendusersandhealthcareprovidersintounderstandingperceptionsofandreactionstoamonthlyoralcontraceptivecapsuleinbangladeshsenegalandzimbabwe AT trishawoodsantos socialandbehavioralresearchwithendusersandhealthcareprovidersintounderstandingperceptionsofandreactionstoamonthlyoralcontraceptivecapsuleinbangladeshsenegalandzimbabwe AT monaelsahn socialandbehavioralresearchwithendusersandhealthcareprovidersintounderstandingperceptionsofandreactionstoamonthlyoralcontraceptivecapsuleinbangladeshsenegalandzimbabwe AT jefflucas socialandbehavioralresearchwithendusersandhealthcareprovidersintounderstandingperceptionsofandreactionstoamonthlyoralcontraceptivecapsuleinbangladeshsenegalandzimbabwe |