Perceptions matter: Narratives of contraceptive implant robbery in Cape Town, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Uptake of contraceptive implants has declined in South Africa since their introduction in 2014, with side effects and inadequate health provider training cited as primary contributors underlying a poor community perception of implants. In this paper we explore a theme that emerged unexpectedly during analysis of our research in Cape Town that may be an additional factor in this decline: narratives of women being assaulted by robbers who physically remove the implants for smoking as drugs. Narratives were described consistently across interviews and focus groups with youth (aged 18-24 years) and in interviews with health providers, with six participants (two young people, four health providers) sharing personal experiences of robbery. While there was a range of perspectives on whether narra

SUBMITTER: Krogstad EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7529647 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature