A mixed-methods study exploring women’s perceptions of terminology surrounding fertility and menstrual regulation in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria

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Date

2021

Journal Title

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Volume Title

Publisher

BMC

Abstract

Women use various terms when discussing the management of their fertility and menstrual irregularities and may interpret the experience of ending a possible pregnancy in nuanced ways, especially when their pregnancy status is ambiguous. Our study aims to understand the terminology used to refer to abortion-like experiences (specifcally menstrual regulation and pregnancy removal), and the specifc scenarios that these practices encompass among women who reported doing something to bring back a late period or ending a pregnancy in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.Our analysis draws upon surveys with women in Nigeria (n=1114) and Cote d’Ivoire (n=352). We also draw upon qualitative in-depth interviews with a subset of survey respondents in Anambra and Kaduna States in Nigeria, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (n=30 in both countries). We examine survey and interview questions that explored women’s knowledge of terminology pertaining to ending a pregnancy or bringing back a late period. Survey data were analyzed descriptively and weighted, and interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

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Keywords

Menstrual regulation, Period regulation, Pregnancy termination, Abortion, Fertility, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria

Citation

Sheehy, G. et al. (2021). A mixed-methods study exploring women’s perceptions of terminology surrounding fertility and menstrual regulation in Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. Reproductive Health, 18(1),251. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01306-5