Introduction

Fishing communities(FCs) are considered among the most at risk populations (MARPS) because of their high vulnerability to HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)[1–3]. FCs in low- or middle-income countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America have HIV prevalence rates that are five to ten times higher than that of the general population[4]. In Uganda, FCs have been shown to have HIV infection rates approximately three to six times higher than in the general population [1,5–9]. This vulnerability stems from complex, interdependent causes which include the mobility of many fisher folk, the time fishermen and fish traders spend away from home, their access to daily cash income in an overall context of poverty and vulnerability, their demographic profile (they are often young and sexually active) and the ready availability of commercial sex in many fishing villages [5–7,10]. There is a high level of sexual mixing and relatively low level of condom use within these communities which makes it very likely that STIs, including HIV, will spread rapidly to all sexually active individuals[11]. Because of the high HIV rates, these communities are being targeted for HIV care and prevention interventions which include use of modern Family Planning (FP) methods. Modern methods of FP include female and male sterilization, oral hormonal contraceptives, intra-uterine devices (IUD), male and female condoms, injectable contraceptives such as Depo-provera, hormonal implants (including Norplant) and emergency contraception. FP is needed to postpone pregnancy, prevent HIV transmission to other sexual partners (through condom use) and in the Elimination of Mother- to- Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV infection. It is also crucial in the prevention of other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) which are predisposing factors in the acquisition of HIV. FCs in Uganda are socially marginalized and have extremely limited access to basic healthcare services including modern FP[11,12], a finding that makes these communities different from others. Given its public health importance, the lack of modern FP may be another contributing factor to the high HIV infection rates in these FCs.

Most developing countries have a higher unmet need for modern FP as compared to that in developed countries [13]. By 2013 the unmet need for FP in most sub-Saharan countries remained between 13–34% and yet by 2010 the unmet need for FP in married women in the United States of America was only 8%[14]. Uganda has an unmet need for modern FP estimated at 34.5% and a total fertility rate of approximately seven children per woman of reproductive age [10]. There is currently no data on use of modern FP by people living in FCs of Uganda. Because of their high HIV infection rates, the integration of FP services into HIV prevention and care services is a worthwhile intervention to consider. Against this background, we explored the knowledge and use of modern FP methods in FCs of Lake Victoria in Uganda with the aim of understanding their reproductive health needs. Data accrued from this research will inform service provision strategies in these communities, HIV prevention campaigns and the design and integration of FP services in future research interventions.

Materials and Methods

Results

Study population

The socio-demographic characteristics of the 1,688 respondents who were followed up are shown in Table 1. Almost one half (48.8%) of the respondents were female, engaging in fishing or related activities such as fish processing and boat building. The majority of respondents had completed primary school, were married and non-Baganda. Approximately a quarter of the respondents reported having multiple sexual partnerships.

Download:

• PPT
  PowerPoint slide
• PNG
  larger image
• TIFF
  original image

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents by gender (N = 1688).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141531.t001

Knowledge of family planning

Participants’ knowledge of modern FP is shown in Table 2. Knowledge of modern FP was defined as being aware of any modern FP method and knowing how it works. Approximately 88%of the respondents knew about modern FP methods, with women and older respondents having more knowledge (P<0.01). At Multivariate analysis, knowledge of modern FP was significantly higher among females as compared to males, among older respondents aged 25 to29 years compared to their younger counterparts aged 18 to 24 years] and among the Baganda as compared to the non-Baganda (P<0.05). FP knowledge was 2.42 times higher for those in trade or business and 2.48 times higher in those working in bars or lodges relative to those who were primarily in fishing or other related activities. Respondents with a higher level of education and those who were single (never married, separated or divorced) were more likely to have knowledge about modern FP methods (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in knowledge of modern FP across different religious denominations.

Download:

• PPT
  PowerPoint slide
• PNG
  larger image
• TIFF
  original image

Table 2. Unadjusted and adjusted Prevalence Risk Ratios (PRRs) of factors associated with modern FP knowledge (N = 1688).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141531.t002

Modern family planning use

Modern FP use by a respondent or their sexual partner was reported in just over a third (35.2%) of the respondents with more females than males reporting use as shown in Table 3. Short-acting reversible contraceptive methods such as oral contraceptives and Depo-Provera were used by three quarters of the respondents as compared to one quarter who used the long-acting reversible methods such as intra-uterine devices and implant. More than half of the respondents who reported knowing about modern FP methods were not using them (59.7%). FP use increased with education level, with the lowest use of FP reported by those without any formal education and the highest use by those who had attained secondary or higher level of education Muslims were less commonly using modern FP methods despite having knowledge. Those who were never married and those who were separated or divorced were more likely to use modern FP compared to those who were married (p<0.001). Modern FP use was 2.12 times higher among those who had more than one sexual partner compared to those who were monogamous (p<0.001). In the final model after multivariable analyses, age, ethnicity, occupation and district of residence lost statistical significance.

Download:

• PPT
  PowerPoint slide
• PNG
  larger image
• TIFF
  original image

Table 3. Unadjusted and adjusted Prevalence Risk Ratios (PRRs) of factors associated with modern FP use (N = 1688).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141531.t003

Reasons for non-use of modern FP

All respondents who were not using FP (65.0%) were asked to give the reasons why they or their partners were not using FP. About one third (30.6%) were not using FP because they desired to have more children, 12.2% feared side effects, while 8.7% reported partners refusing to allow them to use modern FP as shown in Table 4. Twenty seven percent were not in a sexual relationship at the time of interview while 7.8 percent were pregnant or breast feeding. More females than males reported limited access of FP (88.9% vs. 11.1%). Only eight respondents cited religious reasons for non-use while thirty one believed that FP was not effective. Out of the five who cited traditional or tribal cultural demands to have many children, four were male.

Download:

• PPT
  PowerPoint slide
• PNG
  larger image
• TIFF
  original image

Table 4. Reasons for non-use of modern FP (N = 1093).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141531.t004

Discussion

Our findings show that although the people living in FCs of Lake Victoria in Uganda have a high level of knowledge about the concept of FP, their use of modern FP is low. This is consistent with what has been observed in the general population[17,18]. This trend is also similar to what has been observed in other African countries where high FP knowledge does not translate into use [19–22]. Contrary to what is observed in this study population and elsewhere in Africa, both knowledge and use of modern FP in many developed countries are high [1]. Perhaps, more research is needed to further understand factors that contribute to low usage of modern FP despite high knowledge in African settings.

In this study, women respondents and those who had attained a higher education level were more likely to know about FP. In a study about ethnic women in aquaculture in Nepal, it was noted that most ethnic minority populations are less aware about FP due to less access to education and low participation in social activities[23]. Findings from a study which looked at trends and determinants of contraceptive use in Rakai district of Uganda also showed that women and respondents who are highly educated were more likely to know about modern FP[16]. Extensive campaigns for modern FP have made a positive contribution toward public awareness of contraceptive methods country-wide, however it is possible that sexual and reproductive health services mostly target women and youth as these tend to be sexually vulnerable. Concerted efforts to increase male involvement in sexual and reproductive health issues have been promoted as male involvement is reported to positively affect contraceptive use[24,25]. Within communities where men are the decision-makers for health issues and the application of resources, involving them in sexual and reproductive health issues could encourage them to make valuable decisions which benefit their families as a whole [24]. This involvement ought to be at the concept level, the ‘supportive’ level (being supportive for spouses to use contraception) and the ‘acceptor’ level (as FP users). It has been previously demonstrated in recent studies that the majority of people in FCs do not get formal education or if they do, very few go up to tertiary education level[5,8]. Because FCs are remote, they tend to be deprived of social services like formal education which may impact their uptake of health services [3,4]. Whereas modern FP knowledge and use increased with education level, we found that only one third of the study population had attained secondary or higher education level. Previous research in a similar setting also revealed that higher levels of education were associated with higher levels of contraceptive FP knowledge and use[16]. This highlights the significant role education plays in the uptake of health services including sexual and reproductive services. Social services need to be prioritized in FCs as a strategy to reduce their high HIV infection rates.

While it is widely accepted that FCs are occupied by only fishermen, these communities are inhabited by people with various occupations that include fishing, farming, trade or business and others. Our findings show that modern FP knowledge is higher in traders or business people and those working in bars or lodges as compared to those involved primarily in fishing or fishing-related jobs. These subgroups have been previously reported to have more money than others living in the same community[6]. Because of this and the mobile nature of their work, business people and bar attendants tend to be involved in commercial or multiple sexual relationships which may cause them to seek out contraceptive knowledge and to have a profound need for contraception. It is not surprising that those who were having other sexual partners were shown to be more likely to use modern FP as compared to those who did not have them.

FCs in Uganda are amongst population groups that are most at risk of HIV infection, which makes use of modern FP in these communities particularly critical[5,8]. Due to their remoteness and geographical location, fisher-folk communities are often hard to reach [26]. They normally have weak health systems as exemplified by stock outs of medical supplies, insufficient staffing or inadequately trained staff [5]. This might explain the low contraceptive prevalence rate in this study population.

Different reasons for not using FP have been reported in many studies from different settings [16,21,27]. The most common reasons cited by respondents in this study population for not using modern FP included, fertility desires (wanting to have many children) and, fear of side effects such as excessive bleeding following use of hormonal contraceptive methods. The desire to have many children has been reported before as a major hindrance to the use of modern FP [16,28]. Having many children impacts a family’s wellbeing as it depletes its resources and eventually impacts a country’s economic growth [29]. Programs aimed at increasing modern FP use should sensitize the public about the dangers of having a large family and the impact this has on families and the nation at large. Elsewhere, sensitization on the management of side effects of the different FP methods has helped to allay unnecessary anxieties that people have about FP [12]. It is however important to note that some of the side effects in this population were rather presumed or anticipated as has been reported by other researchers[12,24]. FP messages should be tailor made to address the concerns of different populations.

Religion and ethnicity are critical sociocultural dimensions that have for long been considered as having important influences on attitudes towards, and the uptake of FP methods [30]Moslems and Pentecostals in this study population were less commonly using modern FP despite knowledge. Religious leaders ought to be sensitized about benefits of FP and encouraged to promote use of FP by their followers.

Support for regulation of individual fertility has been evident in all cultures, and at all times, even in those societies in which social and religious rules have favoured production of children [31]. In some African countries, people attach prestige to having many children which may explain the low utilization of modern FP in this study population [17]. Some women in developing countries have limited ability to make an independent decision to use medical services. This is evidenced in this study where fifty seven women cited husband or partner refusal to use FP. It has been shown that the decision-making role of husbands/partners has to be taken into account while packaging counseling messages in order to promote FP use[24,25].

Whereas the majority of the respondents reported that they considered their FP method choice effective, there are some who believed that their method choice was not effective. This highlights a knowledge gap in regard to mechanism of action of the different FP methods. Raising awareness on mode of action, eligibility criteria, advantages and side effects of the different modern FP methods has been found to be a great remedy for this gap by some researchers [25]. Nevertheless, if modern FP methods are not used correctly, their effectiveness is compromised.

Limited access to FP services was reported by some of those who were not using modern FP. Some of the reasons cited for limited access included long distances to mainland centers where FP services are available while others included lack of transportation to these centers and money to pay for the FP services. It is logical that in these hard-to reach communities, people will go to health facilities or for services on the basis of proximity and awareness of the services available. If reproductive services are not brought closer to the people who need them, then the people will find it hard to access them.

Other factors which hindered respondents from using FP included a prevailing belief that contraception is a woman's concern, a belief that has been reported in other studies from other countries[21]. The fact that most modern FP methods are for women tends to make people think that FP is a woman’s issue, a trend that has previously been observed[24]. Use of modern FP ought to be embraced by all gender and by families rather than individuals because people's perceptions of FP determine whether they will use it or not[32].

Being cross-sectional in design, this study has a limitation in the sense that it cannot be used to establish causality. It should also be noted that the level of knowledge of different methods of FP and sources of information were not assessed. While conducting interviews, we experienced nonresponse or concealment of some FP information by some male respondents; however this was minimal.

Conclusion

Knowledge of modern FP among people in FCs of Lake Victoria, Uganda is high but its usage is low. Feasible and sustainable strategies of addressing the low usage of modern FP methods in these communities need to be found. High fertility desires, misconceptions about effectiveness of FP, fear of perceived side effects of FP such as excessive bleeding and partner refusal are key barriers to use of modern FP. Community wide promotion of modern FP use through sensitization about its benefits, proven side effects and effectiveness is urgently needed in FCs. Service providers and researchers need to increase access to FP services by bringing the services closer to where people live. Modern FP provision needs to be tailor-made to match the mobile nature, remoteness and high risk behavior of this unique population. Researchers should put in place appropriate mechanisms for providing modern FP methods at research sites, or through referral to quality FP service providers in communities from which volunteers are recruited.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the study respondents who provided data that was used to prepare this manuscript, the research team that implemented the study, all of those who reviewed this manuscript and those who funded this study.