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Cultural eactors constraining the introduction of family planning among the Kassena-Nankana of Northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Adongo, Philip B.
  • Phillips, James F.
  • Kajihara, Beverly
  • Fayorsey, Clara
  • Debpuur, Cornelius
  • Binka, Fred N.

Abstract

This study presents a focus group investigation of reasons why women in a rural, Sahelian community are reluctant to adopt family planning even when convenient services are made freely available. First, women opting to practice contraception must do so at considerable risk of social ostracism or familial conflict. Implementing individual preference is something that must be done without the support of others. Second, few women view personal decisions about contraceptives as theirs to make. Women and children are the property of the corporate family-kin and community militate against reproductive control. Third, although children are highly valued for a variety of economic, social, and cultural reasons, mortality risks remain extremely high. Low fertility imposes the unacceptable risk that a woman will have no surviving children at the end of her reproductive life. Taken together, these findings attest to the inadequacy of service strategies focused on the contribution of distribution, individual agency, or personal choice. Outreach should also build a sense of community legitimacy for the program, collective health action, and traditional leadership support for family planning behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Adongo, Philip B. & Phillips, James F. & Kajihara, Beverly & Fayorsey, Clara & Debpuur, Cornelius & Binka, Fred N., 1997. "Cultural eactors constraining the introduction of family planning among the Kassena-Nankana of Northern Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(12), pages 1789-1804, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:45:y:1997:i:12:p:1789-1804
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    Cited by:

    1. Esther Abena Adama & Sara Bayes & Deborah Sundin, 2018. "Parents’ experiences of caring for preterm infants after discharge with grandmothers as their main support," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(17-18), pages 3377-3386, September.
    2. Angelina Wilson & Nceba Z. Somhlaba, 2018. "Gender, Age, Religion and Positive Mental Health Among Adolescents in a Ghanaian Socio-Cultural Context," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 11(4), pages 1131-1158, August.
    3. Aborigo, Raymond Akawire & Allotey, Pascale & Reidpath, Daniel D., 2015. "The traditional healer in obstetric care: A persistent wasted opportunity in maternal health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 59-66.

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