Understanding Women's Ability to Make Informed Contraceptive Choices: The Case of Women from Slums in Lucknow

Abstract

Women’s reproductive rights and autonomy are fundamental aspects of gender equality and personal liberty, recognized internationally and enshrined in the legal frameworks of many countries, including India. This study draws from an understanding of reproductive autonomy that goes beyond indiscriminate contraceptive access, affordability and quality, to include informed contraceptive choice. It investigates the ability of women from socio-economically disadvantaged groups residing in slum areas of Lucknow to make informed contraceptive choices. Through qualitative interviews with women in slum areas of Lucknow and healthcare workers, as well as observation of women’s consultations regarding contraception with healthcare providers the research explores women’s awareness of contraceptive methods, their sources of information, and the role of healthcare interactions in shaping contraceptive choices. The study finds that these women lack information sources that provide comprehensive and correct information about contraception. They primarily rely on their interactions with health care workers and hearsay to learn about contraception. Moreover consultations with health care workers do not provide comprehensive information regarding contraceptive choices available or the method chosen. Therefore their ability to exercise informed contraceptive choices is limited. This research contributes to understanding the unique challenges faced by marginalised urban women in exercising contraceptive choices. It recommends the abandonment of target based family planning interventions, health care system strengthening and emphasising perspectives on informed contraceptive choice in order to enable women from urban marginalised socio-economic backgrounds realise their right to informed contraceptive choice.