Factors Affecting Use of the Female Condom Among Sexually Active Women in Chongwe District: A Case of Chongwe and Kanakantapa Wards

The purpose of this study is to investigate and bring out the factors that affect use of the female condom among sexually active women in Chongwe District. The female condom even though widely publicised still remains the least used method of contraception. Based on the 2007 Demographic and Health Survey Statistics, in Zambia alone, use only counts for an alarming 2 per cent of the total women population (Demographic & Health Survey 2007). This highlights the fact that use among women is very low and this article investigates why use is low. The study establishes what factors affect use and the study takes place in Chongwe District which provides a fair and general representation of the country’s population. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used for the present study. A Descriptive case study method was employed in the study. This method was used because it looks at individuals, groups, institutions, methods and materials in order to describe, compare, contrast, classify, analyse and interpret the entities and the events that constitute their various fields of enquiry. A sample of 250 Chongwe residents both male and female was selected from both Chongwe and Kanakantapa Wards. A Cluster sampling method was employed to select the two Wards Chongwe and Kanakantapa. A list was obtained from organisations (markets, schools, hospitals, council and police) and a sampling frame created. Simple random technique was used to select the total sample of 250 residents. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data. This method is appropriate and used because it enables the researcher avoid biases in collecting data and to have a full picture of what is really happening concerning the activities surrounding the use of the female condom. The results show that attitudes, perceived barriers, knowledge and male partner influence all have an effect on female condom use. It was also found that attitudes towards female condom use were very poor in Chongwe district. The majority (46.7%) were not interested in the female condom at all with only (20%) showing interest and (33.3%) not sure whether or not they liked it or accepted it. The response on knowledge on the other hand was very positive with 70 per cent claiming to have knowledge of the female condom and only 30 per cent having no idea at all. This result proves that knowledge of the female condom still remains high. The Demographic and Health Survey states that knowledge is at 65.8 per cent for women and 65.6 per cent for men (Zambia Demographic and Health Survey 2007). Barriers such as price of the commodity, scarcity, victimisation proved to negatively affect female condom use in the district. Forty-five per cent said the commodity was scarce with 10 per cent saying it was expensive. Forty per cent said they were victimised by their male partners with five per cent claiming they were victimised by their fellow females. Male partners influence towards the use of the female condom was also found to have an effect on female condom use. While 77.8 per cent of the female respondents said their male partners refused to discuss use of the female condom and 22.2 per cent had their male partners agree to discuss use of the female condom. Female condom use in Zambia is a matter that still requires stakeholders’ involvement. Workshops and awareness activities must be increased so as to cover all areas including the remotest of places. Distribution of the female condom has to be increased worldwide for it to compete with the already established male condom. Only then can the female condom compete neck to neck with the male condom. Sensitisation campaigns too would play a major role in teaching male folk that the female condom can protect both male and female. Counselling helps overcome women’s initial difficulties in using the device. Directing promotional campaigns to men and providing women with negotiation skills are important to overcome men’s resistance to use of condoms. Over time, the use of the female condom has concentrated among a subset of women or couples with high motivation to use it; and since the female condom is a relatively new method, initial interest and demand has to be generated (WHO, 1997). This fight needs the input and influence of churches whose involvement could be very effective.