‘I Am on a Family Planning Program, but I Have Not Told My Husband’: Contraceptive Decision-Making of Child Brides in Ghana
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Date
2022
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Journal of Family Issues
Abstract
This study explores the factors that influence child bride’s decision-making.
either independently or jointly on modern contraceptive use in Ghana. The
findings of this study are based on qualitative data collected through in-depth
interviews with 15 child brides aged 15–24 years from four administrative
regions in Ghana. It was observed that knowing about contraceptives, quality
of the knowledge, attitude and sociocultural influences that affected child brides’
decision to use contraception. Thus, autonomy in decision-making requires
first, making the decision to access contraceptives and secondly, whether
the decision can be implemented alone, with permission or in consultation
with their spouses. It can be concluded from this study that child brides are
not always as vulnerable and unable to exercise agency as it sometimes
suggested because they sometimes used contraceptives without informing
their partners, although there is the possibility of a negative backlash from
their partners when it is known.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
child marriage, modern contraceptives, decision-making