WOMEN’S USE OF CONTRACEPTION IN SUDAN: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The purpose of this paper is to examine the obstacles that lead to low modern contraception use and identify the opportunities that accelerate the utilization of modern family planning methods among women in Sudan during the period between 2006 and 2010. The prevalence of utilization of modern contraception was around only 7 percent and the prevalence of unmet needs was more than 23 percent in 2006. However, these rates have been significantly changed in 2010.
Data used in the analysis come from two national representative surveys, Sudan Household health Survey in 2006 and 2010. Samples of 6173 and 6065 married women in reproductive age in 2006 and 2010 respectively are used in the analysis. Furthermore, primary qualitative comes from 5 FGDs discussion with women and 3 FGDs with village midwifes, 17 in-depth interviews with decision makers and stakeholders in 2012 used in the study. Bi-, multi-variate, and thematic analyses demonstrate that certain factors related to cultural and women’s status aspects as well as factors related to health system in Sudan are the most significant factors that constitute challenges in contraception utilization. Some policy implications of the findings and suggested solution to improving the contraception prevalence under limited resources are discussed