Factors Affecting Family Planning Literacy: Perspectives of Women of Childbearing Age in Rural Lake Zone, Tanzania

Abstract

Background Low uptake of various recommended modern family planning methods is associated with inadequate family planning literacy among potential beneficiaries of the methods. As such, understanding the factors affecting family planning literacy is key to addressing this problem. This study, therefore, explored factors affecting family planning literacy of women of childbearing age in the rural Lake Zone of Tanzania.Methods The study utilized an exploratory descriptive qualitative research approach using focus group discussions to collect data. A total of eight focus group discussion sessions were held to solicit information from women of childbearing age involved in the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the respondents.Results Inadequate family planning literacy has been found among women of childbearing age in the studied communities. Socio-demographic factors such as education level, religious affiliation, and family income have been found to negatively affect the family planning literacy of the women in this study. Other factors such as fertility preference, negative perceptions about family planning, preference of unproven traditional family planning methods, limited access to reliable sources of information, household responsibilities, and poor male partner support were also found to affect women’s family planning literacy. Conclusion Inadequate family planning literacy among women of childbearing age reduces the women’s chances of obtaining relevant family planning information as well as limiting their abilities to process and understand the information so as to be able to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Therefore, addressing factors affecting family planning literacy of the women is imperative in increasing their overall uptake of various recommended modern family planning methods.

An assessment of health information literacy among women in rural Lake Zone, Tanzania

“…Furthermore, studies have reported a significant association between marital status and health information literacy (Kassim and Ndumbaro, 2020; Mbekenga et al, 2021; Muhanga and Malungo, 2018). In these studies, women who are married are reported to have higher levels of health information literacy compared with those who are not married.…”

“…Benard and Chipungahelo, 2017; Heijmans et al, 2015; Hirvonen, 2015; Mahdizadeh and Solhi, 2018; Mojoniyola, 2011; Zimmerman, 2017), research in this area, particularly in developing countries like Tanzania, is scarce. Only a few studies have specifically assessed the health information literacy skills of women of childbearing age in rural Tanzania (see Kassim and Ndumbaro, 2020; Mbekenga et al, 2021). Other available studies on health information literacy in Tanzania have focused on medical librarians (Haruna et al, 2017) and health-care providers and agricultural officers (Wema, 2013).…”