Behind the Paper
FP is a cornerstone of reproductive health, yet in Ethiopia, many married wome who wish to avoid pregnancy still do not use contraceptives. In our recent study published, we applied the TPB to uncover the social, cultural, and psychological factors shaping contraceptive intentions.
Published in
Fitsum Tariku
Assistant Reseacher, FTF Research Consult
Follow
Like
Liked by India Ambler
Explore the Research
SpringerLink
Contraceptive use intention and determinants among nonuser reproductive-aged married women in Ethiopia based on the theory of planned behavior - Discover Public Health
Background The intention to use contraceptives reflects an individual’s or couple’s plan to adopt contraceptive methods, thereby reinforcing women’s rights to reproductive autonomy. This choice is closely linked to significant health benefits, including reductions in unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, ultimately contributing to improved maternal and infant health outcomes. In Ethiopia, despite numerous efforts undertaken over the past decade to increase family planning use, contraceptive prevalence remains low at 36.6% among all women, while unmet need for contraception remains high at 22.3%. Achieving the desired level of change, particularly in rural and remote areas, has been challenging, as highlighted in the National Adolescent and Youth Health Strategies (2021–2025) and the Reproductive Health Strategies (2015–2020). Within this context, understanding women’s contraceptive use intention helps to identify motivations and barriers to future reproductive rights and autonomy of women and enables her to turn that intention into an action, which can inform the design of effective reproductive health, family planning and maternal and child health programs. Methods This study used cross-sectional data from Performance Monitoring for Action Ethiopia (PMA-ET) 2020. Applying a quantitative research methodology to access the relationship between dependent and independent variables, the hypothesis tested in this analysis adapted and used TPB constructs as a guiding behavioral socio-psychological theoretical model. This study included a weighted count of 3025 women aged between 15 and 49 years who were not contraceptive users. Frequencies and percentages were computed to describe the study participants. Chi-square tests were conducted to evaluate associations and assess sample cell size adequacy across categories. Important factors influencing women’s contraceptive intention were, determined using a multilevel binary logistic regression analysis. The findings were reported in terms of percentages and odds ratios along with, 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was established at a significance level of 0.05. Results Approximately one in two 46.4% (95% CI; 43.0−49.9%), of married reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia have a contraceptive use intention. Women who have a favorable attitude toward contraceptives, positive subjective social norm and high perceived contraceptive control were strongly associated with contraceptive use intention. Women who reported having a family size of above five members, better contraceptive knowledge, partner positive contraceptive feeling, visiting a facility and living in the Amhara, Oromia and SNNPR regions were found to increase the odds of contraceptive use intention. However, elderly women aged 30 years and above were, found to have lower odds of having a contraceptive use intention. Conclusion The prevailing proportion calls for multifaceted strategies to identify and address barriers that prevent women from deciding on their contraceptive use intention in order to maximize contraceptive use intention among those who are potential users. Accordingly, the construct of TPB, attitude, subjective social norm, and perceived control, as the main predictors, were found to impact women’s intention to use contraceptives. Awareness of these influencing factors is crucial for designing contraceptive programs and policies tailored to reproductive health strategies, especially these strategies should be diverse enough to create a positive social norm toward contraceptive use, which can lead to information sharing, reduced stigma and community support that can play significant importance in shaping individuals’ attitude toward reproductive behaviors.
As a public health researcher in Ethiopia, I’ve witnessed firsthand how limited access to contraception impacts women’s lives—from health risks to economic and educational barriers. But beyond access,attitudesplay a critical role. Myths about side effects, partner opposition, and religious beliefs often overshadow the benefits of family planning. This study aimed to move beyond statistics and understand thehuman storiesbehind non-use.
Key Findings: What Women Told Us
Attitudes Matter:Fear of side effects (real or perceived) was the most cited deterrent—even more than access.
The Power of Social Norms:Many women said their partners or communities viewed contraception as "unnatural," creating silent pressure to avoid it.
Agency vs. Obstacles:Women who felt confident in their ability to use contraceptives (self-efficacy) were more likely to intend to adopt them—but misinformation eroded this confidence.
Why This Matters
Policymakers often focus on increasing access to contraceptives (which remains vital), but our findings highlight the need forparallel interventions:Community dialogues to dispel myths.
Programs engaging men and religious leaders.
Counseling that addresses fears and builds self-efficacy.
A Personal Reflection
One interview stayed with me: a woman whispered that she secretly desired contraception but feared her husband would accuse her of "infidelity." Her story underscored how deeply gender dynamics intertwine with health choices. Research isn’t just about data, it’s about giving voice to these unspoken struggles.Join the Conversation
I invite you to read our full article [Contraceptive use intention and determinants among nonuser reproductive-aged married women in Ethiopia based on the theory of planned behavior | Discover Public Health] and reflect:
Fitsum Tariku
Assistant Reseacher, FTF Research Consult
Follow
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in
Sign In Register
Cytokines and Growth Factors
Life Sciences > Biological Sciences > Physiology > Cytokines and Growth Factors
- Discover Public Health
Discover Public Health
This is an open access journal publishing research from all fields relevant to public health.
With collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Environmental Pollution, Health Risk, and SDG: Determinants and Policy
Health and well-being are core components of sustainable development, particularly within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 3 specifically focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages, recognizing that achieving this goal requires addressing a variety of determinants, many of which are closely linked to environmental factors. Environmental pollution—especially air, water, and soil contamination—poses significant health risks and remains a critical determinant of health outcomes and disparities among different populations.
Environmental pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), gaseous pollutants, and greenhouse gases, have been strongly associated with adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, premature mortality, and COPD. These risks are particularly pronounced in urban areas, where industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and waste disposal practices contribute to deteriorating air and water quality. The impact of these pollutants is often disproportionately felt by vulnerable populations, exacerbating health inequities.
Integrated policy measures are essential in addressing the health risks associated with environmental pollution. Policies aimed at reducing emissions, improving waste management, and transitioning to cleaner energy sources are critical in mitigating the health risks posed by environmental degradation. Additionally, these policies must align with broader sustainability objectives, including those outlined in SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and SDG 13 (climate action). However, the implementation of such policies frequently involves difficult trade-offs between economic growth, industrial development, and environmental protection, making policy design and execution a complex challenge.
This Collection invites research focusing on the intersection of environmental pollution, public health risks, and policy responses. It seeks to explore how targeted policies—such as air quality regulations, climate change mitigation strategies, and pollution reduction initiatives—can improve health outcomes, particularly in the context of achieving SDG 3 and other related SDGs. Furthermore, this Collection will examine the potential conflicts and trade-offs that arise in implementing these policies, particularly regarding health equity and protecting vulnerable populations. By examining the environmental determinants of health, this Collection aims to provide insights into how integrated policy approaches can promote both environmental sustainability and public health.
Keywords:environmental pollution, health risk, air quality, public health, SDG 3, environmental determinants of health, epidemiology, pollution control, climate action, health equity, policy implementation, sustainable development, SDG 13, clean energy transition, urban health, environmental policy.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG3 and SDG13.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Aug 26, 2025
Planetary Nutrition: Bridging the Gap between Human and Environmental Health
While the Planet suffers from the effects of climate change, people are quietly experiencing the relentless advance of chronic pandemics such as obesity and mental disorders. The global industrialized food systems are undermining our health and the planet. Our current food consumption habits are based on energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, with excessive consumption of ultra-processed food, and diets rich in saturated fats, sodium and many additives that undermine our health and harm the environment.
The production of such foods through our current food system negatively impacts our planet. Prioritizing intensive farming and agriculture produces high short-term productivity that leads to the degradation of our soil and ecosystems in the long term. Planetary nutrition seeks to promote a sustainable diet that counteracts climate change while improving physical and mental human well-being. To do so, the displacement of industrialized foods added to the promotion of healthful plant-based diets seems to be crucial to achieve environmental sustainability, and resilience and promote human health. The complex relations of food systems, health, and climate change need to be considered simultaneously. The recognition of the intricate web of relationships between planetary and human health through nutrition may aid in promoting strategic policy actions to implement sustainable plant-based diets.
Current evidence highlights the importance of nutrition for preventing diseases while promoting environmental health. This Collection aims to bridge the gap between human and planetary health by gathering top-tier research. We particularly invite submissions focusing on dietary patterns, dietary strategies, food systems, food policies, and overall human nutrition related to human and environmental health. Those manuscripts related to mental health and food policies are especially encouraged.
Keywords: Diet, Sustainability, Planetary health, Mental health, Food system, Climate change, Plant-based diets, Dietary patterns, Environment
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 31, 2025
Play video
Behind the Paper, Life in Research
Behind the Paper
Behind the Paper
News and Opinion
We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available.
Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
