{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T16:15:44Z","timestamp":1778602544393,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778544000000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":41,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["bmjph"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Despite a notable increase in the overall contraceptive prevalence in Ethiopia in the past two decades, the utilisation of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) is persistently low. This study aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the perceptions held by community groups, IUCD users and healthcare providers to support efforts to address the existing gap in service uptake.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was conducted between 1 September 2024 and 1 October 2024, in Sodo town. A maximum variation sample of 23 study participants was recruited using a purposive sampling technique. A total of 16 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 7 key informant interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. A semistructured IDI guide and a field book were used. Thematic analysis was conducted via Colaizzi\u2019s seven-step data analysis framework, and the open code software V.4.03 was used for data analysis and management.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Five main themes and 12 subthemes emerged from the study. The identified themes include poor knowledge of IUCD, male partners\u2019 involvement in decision-making, perceptions and perspectives on IUCD, users\u2019 experiences and realities and optimising IUCD service uptake. Findings from this study revealed that the use of the IUCD method was not solely dependent on the women\u2019s choice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The study shows that awareness and acceptability of IUCD remain low, mainly due to prevailing misconceptions, constrained male partner engagement in family planning decision making and service delivery-related gaps. However, participants who used the method reported positive experiences, citing its long-term use, fewer side effects and non-hormonal nature, well-suited to their working conditions and lifestyle. These findings underscore the need for targeted awareness creation initiatives, deliberate male partner engagement, strengthened healthcare leadership and coherent policy actions to improve IUCD service uptake.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjph-2025-003558","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T15:51:11Z","timestamp":1778601071000},"page":"e003558","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Perceptions of community members and healthcare providers on intrauterine devices: a qualitative study in southern Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Samson","family":"Dubale","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"MSI Ethiopia Reproductive Choices, Hawassa, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-5142-8751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihiret","family":"Tesfaw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wolaita Sodo University, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, School of Public Health, Sodo, Ethiopia"},{"name":"USAID-FFHPCT Activity, MJE, Hawassa, Ethiopia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.1","unstructured":"Faculity of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare . Intrauterine contraception guideline March 2023 (amended Jan 2025). Available: https:\/\/srh.bmj.com\/content\/49\/Suppl_1 [Accessed 23 Dec 2025]."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.2","unstructured":"World Health Organization . Family planning\/contraception method global fact sheet. Available: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/family-planning-contraception [Accessed 15 May 2025]."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3389\/ijph.2025.1607680","article-title":"Evolving Landscape of Modern Contraceptive Use in Ethiopia: A Two-Decade Analysis","volume":"70","author":"Beyene","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Public Health"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.4","unstructured":"Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and and ICF . Ethiopia mini demographic and health survey 2019: final report. 2024. Available: https:\/\/dhsprogram.com\/pubs\/pdf\/FR363\/FR363.pdf [Accessed 13 Dec 2024]."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1177\/2150132720904916","article-title":"The Rate of Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Use and Associated Factors Among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Mettu Rural Community, Southwest Ethiopia","volume":"11","author":"Teshome","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Prim Care Community Health"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/aogs.14587"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0229071","article-title":"Factors associated with intrauterine contraceptive device use among women of reproductive age group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A case control study","volume":"15","author":"Dereje","year":"2020","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-018-4032-z","article-title":"Utilization of intra uterine contraceptive device and associated factors among reproductive age group of family planning users in Han Health Center, Bahir Dar, North West Amhara, Ethiopia, 2018","volume":"11","author":"Animen","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.9","unstructured":"Mohammed Ali MW . Assessment of intrauterine contraceptive device utilization and associated factors for low utilization among clients of family guidance association clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.10","unstructured":"Tong A , Sainsbury P , Craig J . n.d. COREQ (Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research) checklist. Int J Qual Health Care."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.11","unstructured":"Hunter DJ , Mccallum J , Howes D . n.d. Defining exploratory-descriptive qualitative research and considering its application to healthcare. Journal of Nursing and Health Care."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.12","first-page":"28","article-title":"Population Projection of Ethiopia for All Regions At Wereda Level from 2014 \u2013 2017","volume":"3","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Ethnobiol Ethnomed"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.13","unstructured":"Capital F . Maximum variation sampling: maximizing insights: the role of variation in purposive sampling. 2025."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/oajc.s359120"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.15","unstructured":"Creswel JW . Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. 4th edn. London: SAGE Publications Ltd,"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-018-0594-7","article-title":"Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period","volume":"18","author":"Vasileiou","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732313519710"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.18","first-page":"643","article-title":"Colaizzi\u2019s descriptive phenomenological method","volume":"28","author":"Morrow","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychologist"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.19","unstructured":"Adams JD , Siry C . Living authenticity in science education research. In: Otrel-Cass K , Andr\u00e9e M , Ryu M , eds. Examining research ethics in contemporary science education research: being responsive and responsible. Kaos GL Dergisi, 2020. Available: https:\/\/link.springer.com\/chapter\/10.1007\/978-3-030-50921-7_9"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.20","unstructured":"World Health Organization . WHO recommendations on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. 2018."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.21","unstructured":"Macro ORC , Goverment G . Central statistical agency: Ethiopia demographic and health survey 2005. 2006."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40834-021-00164-7"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kassa BG , Tenaw LA , Ayele AD , et al . Prevalence and determinants of the involvement of married men in family planning services in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Womens Health (Lond Engl) 2022;18. doi:10.1177\/17455057221099083","DOI":"10.1177\/17455057221099083"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/oajc.s257762"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/oajc.s219188"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.26","unstructured":"Ethiopia Ministry of Health . Federal democratic republic of Ethiopia ministry of health third edition national guideline for family planning services in Ethiopia third edition. 2020.1\u201377."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.35816\/jiskh.v13i1.1186"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/oajc.s382973"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.29","unstructured":"Wolaita Zone Health Department . Wolaita Zone Health department 2016EFY annual progress report."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.30","unstructured":"Mohamed FS . 2023 Barriers of IUCD uptake among sexually active nulliparous university students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. JITDW."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.14710\/nmjn.v3i2.6005","article-title":"Phenomenology: Exploring Women\u2019s Experiences of First Time IUD Insertion","volume":"3","author":"Fevriasanty","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nurs Med J Nursing"},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.32","unstructured":"Ministry of Health and Child Care . Factors influencing the uptake of intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) in selected provinces in Zimbabwe: a 2016 qualitative study. 2016."},{"key":"2026051208501880000_4.2.e003558.33","unstructured":"Minister of Health Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia . Family planning service integration national implementation guideline. 2021. Available: https:\/\/www.moh.gov.et\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-04\/FAMILY [Accessed 13 Dec 2025]."}],"container-title":["BMJ Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjph-2025-003558","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T15:51:27Z","timestamp":1778601087000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bmjpublichealth.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bmjph-2025-003558"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"references-count":33,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bmjph-2025-003558"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjph-2025-003558","relation":{},"ISSN":["2753-4294"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2753-4294","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}}}