Clients and Providers’ Perceptions on the Quality and Provision of Contraceptive Services to Youths at Community Level in Rural Uganda: A Qualitative Study

Background: Contraceptive uptake among youths aged 15-24 years in Uganda remains low at 11%, despite a conducive policy environment and various contraceptive delivery models in the country. We explored the perceptions of youths on the quality of contraceptive services available and the providers' perceptions towards delivering contraceptive services to young people at community level. Methods: Qualitative data were drawn from open-ended questions in a survey of 323 sexually active youths aged 15-24 years old. In addition, we conducted four focus group discussions with 48 youths, and eight (8) in-depth interviews with community-level contraceptive providers. We used latent content analysis technique to analyse the data. Results: A number of gaps in relation to the quality of available contraceptive services were cited by the youths. These included; inconsistencies in the supply of contraceptives, limited contraceptive options, absence of counselling from drug shop operators and perceived technical incompetency among some contraceptive providers. The youths also reported good client relations among Community Based Distributors of contraceptives (CBDs) and drug shop operators. In general, providers did not know that family planning policies existed, although the public healthcare providers and CBDs of contraceptives followed the family planning provision checklists. The providers also had misconceptions about contraceptive use among youths and negative attitudes towards the provision of contraceptives to the young ones and unmarried youths. Conclusion: To improve on the quality of contraceptive services provided to youths at community level, the inconsistencies in the availability of contraceptives and the negative attitudes by service providers towards dispensing contraceptives especially to the unmarried youths should be addressed. The availability of contraceptive choices too should not be compromised and dispensing contraceptives should be accompanied by adequate information.