Contraceptive Practice and Reproductive Health among Naga Married Women in Lahe Township, Hard-to-Reach Area of Myanmar

Aung Kyaw Khant, Aung Aung, Poe Poe Aung, Kyaw Swar Aye, Ohnmar Myint, Zayar Myatthu, Ye Lin Soe, Nyan Lin Htet & Ye Lin Aung

Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal, 2021: 33,(1-3): 58-67

This study aimed to determine knowledge and practice of contraception and reproductive health, including delivery practices among Naga married women in Lahe Township in Naga Self Administrated Zone, Sagaing Region. Quantitative and qualitative interviews were employed from April to June 09. Among  respondents, .% were from rural villages and %, illiterate. Mean family members was  in a household (range -) and mean age of married was 0 years (range -9). Although three quarter knew modern contraceptive methods, only .% had uptake the method of contraception. Injection (%) is the most preferred method, followed by the oral contraceptive pills (%). About % of women reported home delivery and .% had the experience of self-delivery. Only  participants (.%) had history of miscarriage. Women with higher education status were more likely to use the contraceptive methods compared to those with the lower edu-cation status (p=0.00). 

Globally,  percent of married or in-union women among reproductive age of -9 years were using contraception in 0 aimed to increase by 0 million in 00. The World Health Organization (WHO) targets the goal of universal access to and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and program aimed to achieve by 00.

Mixed methods study using quantitative and qualitative interviews were employed from April to June 09. Eligible participants (Naga ethnicity, currently married women, age between  to 9 years) were randomly selected from four wards and eight villages in Lahe Township.

The study was conducted in remote areas where the minor ethnic tribe of ‘Naga’ is resided. Naga is one of the Tibetan-Burmese ethnic tribes, residing in Sagaing Region in North Western Myanmar, where geographic accessibility and infrastructure are under-developed. This study identified knowledge and practice of contraception among Naga married women and their delivery behavior, by mixed methods.

Most of the participants were from rural area with younger age group between - years and more than half were illiterate. The study highlighted that the participants had high knowledge in contraception, but the use of contraception was low, due to traditional culture such as self-oppose, husband-oppose and want to baby, and lack of accessibility such as lack of health care providers.

We would like to extend our thanks to Major General Soe Win, Director of Directorate of Medical Services for his permission in doing research and funding support. Our sincere thanks    are   conveyed   to   Dr   Kyi   Minn,    from Myanmar Health and Development Consortium for his guidance and technical support and Dr Yan Naung Win for their technical supports. We have much pleasure in expressing our gratitude to Dr Htet Phyo Wai, TMO of Lahe Township hospital for allowing research in this area and his support during data collection period in that area. Special thanks are owed to all the participants in Lahe Townships and also to volunteers for their enthusiastic participations in this study. 

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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