Challenges of accessing family planning services by women of reproductive age in Maseru Industrial Areas

Abstract

The focus of the study was on challenges faced by women of reproductive age when accessing family planning services in Maseru. The research is qualitative in nature as it sought to enable the respondents to express themselves without many interruptions. The socio-economic as well as cultural and health factors that influence women’s access to contraceptives have been documented in the study. The study findings revealed that there is high knowledge of contraceptive use among women. Respondents used mostly pills and injections. The health-related effects of using these contraceptives such as weight-gain, heavy menstrual flow and nausea resulted into some women no longer seeking family planning services even when they had confided in the healthcare worker about their problems. Contraceptives are accessed freely in public hospitals and clinics in Lesotho but young women in the study stated that they often buy expensive contraceptives in private clinics and hospitals to avoid humiliating questions that health workers in public hospitals and clinics ask them. However, married women are treated better in healthcare facilities when they seek contraceptives. COVID-19 also became a challenge for women to access contraceptives in Lesotho due to the strict lockdowns that were put in place by the government to curb the spread of the disease in 2020. This resulted in movement restrictions and when some women did manage to visit hospitals to get contraceptives, security officials would often harass them which influenced them to sometimes not get their contraceptive package. Long queues and congestion in hospitals made some women not to seek services as they feared contracting COVID-19. Shortage on contraception method of choice also made some women to abandon use of contraceptives. With these various challenges, the researcher advices the government to make contraceptive access adolescent-youth friendly so that young people receiving the services express themselves freely instead of feeling prejudiced. Access to family planning services should be there all the time even in pandemics like that of COVID-19. COVID-19 should, in fact, serve as a lesson in strengthening access. Contraceptive access and, delivery should not be hampered and, the policy makers, health rights activists should keep on reminding the government v and relevant stakeholders in the delivery of family planning services to prioritize the delivery of family planning, and should also not leave men behind in this discourse. They have a crucial role in the drive for women to access family planning services effectively