Individual, partner, and community variables associated with method-specific contraceptive beliefs in urban and rural Kenya.

Objectives: Global unmet need for contraception remains high. Contraceptive health-related beliefs are a barrier to contraceptive use but are poorly understood. This study examined quantitative differences in two health-related beliefs between pills, injectables, and implants.

Women's beliefs about methods and contraceptive discontinuation: Results from a prospective study from Nairobi and Homa Bay counties in Kenya.

Background: Rates of contraceptive discontinuation are high in many low and middle countries contributing to unmet need for contraception and other adverse reproductive health outcomes. Few studies have investigated how women's beliefs about methods and strength of fertility preferences affect discontinuation rates. This study examines this question using primary data collected in Nairobi and Homa Bay counties in Kenya.

Misconceptions, Misinformation, and Misperceptions: A Case for Removing the "Mis-" When Discussing Contraceptive Beliefs.

Beliefs about contraception are commonly conceptualized as playing an important role in contraceptive decision-making. Interventions designed to address beliefs typically include counseling to dispel any "myths" or "misconceptions." These interventions currently show little evidence for impact in reducing beliefs.

Method-specific beliefs and subsequent contraceptive method choice: Results from a longitudinal study in urban and rural Kenya.

Introduction: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, shows that negative beliefs about contraceptive methods are associated with non-use. However, little is known about the relationship between contraceptive beliefs and subsequent method choice.

Methodology: We used data from a two-year longitudinal survey of married women aged 15-39 years at enrollment from one urban site (Nairobi) and one rural site (Homa Bay) in Kenya.

Mobile phone-based interventions for improving adherence to medication prescribed for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of disability and mortality globally. Premature fatal and non-fatal CVD is considered to be largely preventable through the control of risk factors by lifestyle modifications and preventive medication. Lipid-lowering and antihypertensive drug therapies for primary prevention are cost-effective in reducing CVD morbidity and mortality among high-risk people and are recommended by international guidelines.

Pregnancy intention data completeness, quality and utility in population-based surveys: EN-INDEPTH study.

Background: An estimated 40% of pregnancies globally are unintended. Measurement of pregnancy intention in low- and middle-income countries relies heavily on surveys, notably Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), yet few studies have evaluated survey questions. We examined questions for measuring pregnancy intention, which are already in the DHS, and additional questions and investigated associations with maternity care utilisation and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Which contraceptive side effects matter most? Evidence from current and past users of injectables and implants in Western Kenya.

Objectives: The objectives were to assess experiences of menstrual bleeding and nonbleeding side effects among current and past users of injectables and implants and the associations between side effects and method evaluations by women - satisfaction, perceived suitability, the likelihood of future use and intended duration of use.

Study Design: We used data on past and current users of injectables and implants from a survey of 1866 married or cohabiting women who participated in the third round of a 2-year prospective longitudinal study conducted in Homa Bay County, Western Kenya. Descriptive and bivariate analysis with tests was used to assess statistically significant associations between experience of bleeding/nonbleeding side effects and method-specific attitudes.

Exploring the Demand-Side Factors Associated with the Use of Implants in Kenya.

We explore the demand-side factors associated with the use of implants in Kenya given the notable rapid increase in uptake of the method in the country. Data are from a longitudinal study conducted among married or cohabiting women aged 15-39 years at the time of recruitment in one rural (2,424 women) and one urban (2,812 women) site. Analysis entails descriptive statistics and estimation of multivariate logistic regression models.

Experiences of romantic relationships and desires to marry and have children among youth in a low-fertility society.

This study aims to explore experiences of romantic relationships and to examine determinants of desires to marry and have children in the future among Japanese university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of A University, located in the capital city of a Japanese prefecture, using an anonymous self-administered and structured questionnaire developed by an online survey software. A total of 815 respondents with complete data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Fertility preferences and subsequent childbearing in Africa and Asia: A synthesis of evidence from longitudinal studies in 28 populations.

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Contraceptive Method Attributes and Married Women's Intention to Use the Pill or the Injectable in Rural Bangladesh.

Context: The factors underlying contraceptive method choice are poorly understood in many countries, including Bangladesh. It is important to understand how Bangladeshi women's perceptions of a method's attributes are associated with their intention to use that method.

Methods: Data on 2,605 married women aged 15-39 living in rural Matlab were taken from a baseline survey conducted in 2016.

Changes in, and factors associated with, frequency of sex in Britain: evidence from three National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal).

Objectives: To examine changes over time in the reported frequency of occurrence of sex and associations between sexual frequency and selected variables.

Design: Repeat, cross sectional, population based National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-1, Natsal-2, and Natsal-3).

Setting: British general population.

Childbearing desires and behaviour: a prospective assessment in Nairobi slums.

Background: Advancing an understanding of childbearing desires is an important precursor to achievement of the policy goal of reducing unintended pregnancies. It has been long debated that concepts of fertility desires and planning may be particularly problematic in sub-Saharan Africa. However, examination of the utility of fertility preference measures and their link to reproductive behaviour is still rare in the region.

Factors influencing satisfaction with oral contraceptive pills and injectables among past users in Kenya.

This study examines factors associated with satisfaction with oral pills and injectables among past users in Kenya based on a baseline survey for the 2-year prospective longitudinal study Improving Measurement of Unintended Pregnancy and Unmet Need for Family Planning conducted in 2016. Married women aged 15-39 years were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that captured information on reproduction, contraceptive knowledge and beliefs and attitudes towards contraception in general and towards specific methods. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors that influenced satisfaction with oral pills and injectables among past users in one urban site (Nairobi slums) and one predominantly rural site (Homa Bay in western Kenya).

Factors influencing the likelihood of acceptance of postpartum intrauterine devices across four countries: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.

Objective: To examine the factors that positively influenced the likelihood of accepting provision of postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUDs) across four countries: Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tanzania, and India.

Methods: Healthcare providers were trained across 24 facilities in counselling and insertion of PPIUDs as part of a large multicountry study. Women delivered were asked to take part in a 15-minute face-to-face structured interview conducted by in-country data collection officers prior to discharge.

FIGO postpartum intrauterine device initiative: Complication rates across six countries.

Objective: To record and analyze complication rates following postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUD) insertion in 48 hospitals in six countries: Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Methods: Healthcare providers were trained in counselling and insertion of PPIUD via a training-the-trainer model. Data were collected on methodology, timing, cadre of staff providing care, and number of insertions.

Method-Specific Attributes that Influence Choice of Future Contraception Among Married Women in Nairobi's Informal Settlements.

Despite an extensive evidence base on contraceptive method choice, it remains uncertain which factors are most influential in predisposing women toward certain methods and against others. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge by making use of rarely-measured perceptions about specific methods, perceived social network experience of methods, and women's own past experiences using specific methods. We draw on baseline data from the project, "Improving Measurement of Unintended Pregnancy and Unmet Need for Family Planning.

Setting the research agenda for induced abortion in Africa and Asia.

Provision of safe abortion is widely recognized as vital to addressing the health and wellbeing of populations. Research on abortion is essential to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers in population health from university, policy, and practitioner contexts working on two multidisciplinary projects on family planning and safe abortion in Africa and Asia were brought together for a workshop to discuss the future research agenda on induced abortion.

Women's attitudes and beliefs towards specific contraceptive methods in Bangladesh and Kenya.

Background: Missing from the huge literature on women's attitudes and beliefs concerning specific contraceptive methods is any detailed quantitative documentation for all major methods in low- and middle-income countries. The objectives are to provide such a documentation for women living in Matlab (rural Bangladesh), Nairobi slums and Homa Bay (rural Kenya) and to compare the opinions and beliefs of current, past and never users towards the three most commonly used methods (oral contraceptives, injectables and implants).

Methods: In each site, 2424 to 2812 married women aged 15-39 years were interviewed on reproduction, fertility preferences, contraceptive knowledge and use, attitudes and beliefs towards family planning in general and specific methods.

Improving the Measurement of Fertility Regulation Practices: Findings from Qualitative Research in Ghana.

Context: According to Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data, highly educated urban women in some West African countries simultaneously have low rates of both contraceptive use and fertility-suggesting that the DHS may not be capturing a complete picture of women's contraceptive practices.

Methods: Individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 48 women aged 18-49 in Accra, Ghana, who had at least a secondary education to explore their reproductive lives and relationships, and their views on and use of fertility regulation strategies. Data were analyzed using iterative thematic techniques.

Consequences of maternal morbidity on health-related functioning: a systematic scoping review.

Objectives: To assess the scope of the published literature on the consequences of maternal morbidity on health-related functioning at the global level and identify key substantive findings as well as research and methodological gaps.

Methods: We searched for articles published between 2005 and 2014 using Medline, Embase, Popline, CINAHL Plus and three regional bibliographic databases in January 2015.

Design: Systematic scoping review PRIMARY OUTCOME: Health-related functioning RESULTS: After screening 17 706 studies, 136 articles were identified for inclusion.

Identifying gaps in HIV service delivery across the diagnosis-to-treatment cascade: findings from health facility surveys in six sub-Saharan countries.

Introduction: Despite the rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART), challenges remain in ensuring timely access to care and treatment for people living with HIV. As part of a multi-country study to investigate HIV mortality, we conducted health facility surveys within 10 health and demographic surveillance system sites across six countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to investigate clinic-level factors influencing (i) use of HIV testing services, (ii) use of HIV care and treatment and (iii) patient retention on ART.

Methods: Health facilities ( = 156) were sampled within 10 surveillance sites: Nairobi and Kisumu (Kenya), Karonga (Malawi), Agincourt and uMkhanyakude (South Africa), Ifakara and Kisesa (Tanzania), Kyamulibwa and Rakai (Uganda) and Manicaland (Zimbabwe).

Reasons for unmet need for family planning, with attention to the measurement of fertility preferences: protocol for a multi-site cohort study.

Background: Unmet need for family planning points to the gap between women's reproductive desire to avoid pregnancy and contraceptive behaviour. An estimated 222 million women in low- and middle-income countries have unmet need for modern contraception. Despite its prevalence, there has been little rigorous research during the past fifteen years on reasons for this widespread failure to implement childbearing desires in contraceptive practice.