{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T04:12:17Z","timestamp":1787890337077,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,16]],"date-time":"2020-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1592265600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,16]],"date-time":"2020-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1592265600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Reprod Health"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Family planning (FP) is an essential component of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and contributes directly to SDG targets 3.7 and 5.6. In Pakistan, contraceptive use has remained stagnant over the past 5\u2009years. This change has been very slow when compared to the FP2020 pledge. The Sukh initiative project was conceived and implemented to alleviate these challenges by providing access to quality contraceptive methods in some underserved areas of Karachi, Pakistan. A qualitative study was conducted to understand the perceptions and experiences of men and women towards acceptability and contraceptive use.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative study was conducted at ten Sukh stations located in four towns of Karachi. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with married women of reproductive age (MWRA) and married men who received FP services through the Sukh initiative. Study participants were purposively sampled for focus group discussions (FGDs). Interview data was manually transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 20 FDGs (Men\u2009=\u200910 FGDs; MWRA\u2009=\u200910 FGDs) were conducted. Three overarching themes were identified: (I) Appropriateness and means to promote contraceptive use; (II) Equity and Accessibility to contraceptives; and (III) Perspective on available FP services. Generally, both men and women were informed about FP methods but women were more cognizant of FP information. The door to door services by community health workers in Sukh initiative areas was largely appreciated both by women and men as it has made the accessibility and availability of the information and services easy. Women suggested that the Sukh initiative should bring some strategies that can help men broaden their perspective towards FP. The study informed that the men feel left out from the FP programs. Therefore, male participants expressed keen interest in initiatives for men in their communities that would cater to their FP needs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This qualitative study provided a unique opportunity to understand the perceptions of men and women towards the phenomena of contraceptive use. The study identified the need for trained and qualified female and male healthcare providers and well-established health facilities alongside door-to-door services.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12978-020-00946-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,16]],"date-time":"2020-06-16T10:03:47Z","timestamp":1592301827000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Perceptions and experiences of men and women towards acceptability and use of contraceptives in underserved areas of Karachi, Pakistan: a midline qualitative assessment of Sukh initiative, Karachi Pakistan"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Sarah","family":"Saleem","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Narjis","family":"Rizvi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0180-0213","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anam","family":"Shahil Feroz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sayyeda","family":"Reza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saleem","family":"Jessani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Farina","family":"Abrejo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,6,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"946_CR1","volume-title":"Trends in long-acting reversible contraception use among US women aged 15\u201344: US Department of Health and Human Services, centers for disease control and \u2026","author":"AM Branum","year":"2015","unstructured":"Branum AM, Jones J. Trends in long-acting reversible contraception use among US women aged 15\u201344: US Department of Health and Human Services, centers for disease control and \u2026; 2015."},{"key":"946_CR2","volume-title":"Assessing the 2017 Census of Pakistan Using Demographic Analysis: A Sub-National Perspective","author":"MA Wazir","year":"2019","unstructured":"Wazir MA, Goujon A. Assessing the 2017 Census of Pakistan Using Demographic Analysis: A Sub-National Perspective; 2019."},{"key":"946_CR3","volume-title":"United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs\/Population Division (2009b): World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision.","author":"DESA U","year":"2010","unstructured":"DESA U. 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