Sierra Leone
As of August 2011, Population Media Center has received funding from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Sierra Leone for a 208-episode radio serial drama for promotion of family planning use. The program will also address such issues as preventing or repairing obstetric fistula, ending female genital mutilation, stopping gender based violence, and preventing HIV infection.
Sierra Leone is a country of approximately 6 million people with a population doubling time of 32 years. The total fertility rate of 5 children per woman is among the highest in the world. This high fertility rate is compounded by low use and knowledge of modern contraceptive methods by men and women throughout the country. The fertility rate is, in part, a reflection of the ideal number of children among married women (5.3) and among married men (6.8).
Only 7% of married women (15-49 years of age) in Sierra Leone use a modern method of contraception. Among non-users of modern contraception, the reasons given for non-use are partner opposition (14.4%), fear of side effects or health concerns (14.2%), personal opposition (13.5%), lack of knowledge of methods or sources (12%), wanting as many children as possible (10.8%), and religious opposition (9.3%). Cost was cited by only 1.3%, and lack of access was cited by only 0.3%. There is a critical need to change social norms with regard to ideal family size, acceptability of family planning, and self-efficacy with regard to decision-making about family matters, and to provide correct information regarding the relative safety of contraception compared to early and repeated childbearing. PMC hopes that its program will have a major impact in on these norms.
