Perceptions of contraception services among recipients of a combination HIV-prevention interventions for adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) have high rates of unintended pregnancies and are at higher risk for HIV infection compared to older women of reproductive age. Using a socio-ecological model approach, this research investigated perceptions of contraception services among AGYW who had been recipients of a combination HIV-prevention intervention, to better understand factors affecting their access to and use of contraception services. METHOD: Qualitative methods used in this study included focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 185 AGYW aged 15–24 years living in five of the ten intervention districts. All interviews and FGDs were audio-recorded and data were analyzed thematically using Nvivo 12 software with manual identification of themes and labelling of raw data. RESULTS: The findings reveal that many AGYW, especially those in the younger age group 15–19 years, experience difficulties in accessing contraception services, mainly at the interpersonal and health service levels. Lack of support for the use of contraceptives from parents/caregivers as well as from sexual partners were key barriers at the interpersonal level; while providers’ negative attitude was the main barrier at the health service level. The majority of school-going AGYW felt that bringing contraception services and other sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services on to the school premises would legitimize their use in the eyes of parents and help to overcome barriers related to parental support and acceptance, as well as overcome some of the health service and structural level barriers. However, views among school-going AGYW about school-based provision of contraception services were mixed, clouded with concerns relating to confidentiality. CONCLUSION: Interventions to improve parental/caregiver and sexual partner support for the use of contraception services by AGYW, as well as efforts to expand the provision of contraception services on the school premises are urgently needed. Future interventions should incorporate multi-level approaches to address structural and contextual barriers to access and use of contraception services to gain maximum effect.