Graphic by Azma Mulundika

Strange myths surrounding the use of contraceptives in Malawi and Uganda discussed in podcast released by Africa Science Focus on April 7, 2021.

According to the research that was discussed in the podcast, though there is a rising demand for contraceptives in sub-Saharan Africa, there’s still a number of factors that prevent women from gaining access to modern forms of birth control. But the biggest of these factors is myths about the effects of contraceptives on men and women. Research done in Malawi found that there is a belief among the rural population that contraceptives can accumulate in the womb and cause a woman to be barren and another myth that women taking contraceptives can affect her husband’s sexual drive by lowering it significantly.

Dr Chilufya Tasila, virologist at the Ministry of Health in Zambia, debunks these claims. She explains that there is no research to back up any of these myths and adds that “These myths tend to come up in rural areas where there is a severe lack of education on such topics.” Dr Tasila goes on to explain that men are hardly ever included in conversations about contraceptives and other forms of family planning, “It is as important to educate the man about these things [contraceptives] as it is to educate the woman.” The podcast further discusses how husbands also tend to be a huge barrier in women’s decisions about contraceptives and reports that these myths have resulted in some cases of gender-based violence against women who choose to use contraceptives in countries like Uganda. Dr Effie Chipeta from the Malawi College of Medicine, an interviewee in the podcast, discloses that research in Malawi is still being conducted about these myths and the information found will be provided to the Ministry of Health in order for them to prepare and organize more educational talks on the subject.

Aside from myths about contraceptives, there are a number of other factors that affect the usage and accessibility of contraceptives according to Dr Chipeta. These include lack of education, distance between consumers and facilities that provide contraceptives, low supply of contraceptives in some areas, and social and cultural values such as the desire for large numbers of children.