Horizons Projects | Promoting Dual Protection Practices among Women and their Male Partners in Ibadan, Nigeria

HORIZONS PROJECT
Promoting Dual-Protection Practices Among Women and Their Male Partners in Ibadan, Nigeria

Integrating prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) via male or female condom use into family planning services can be key to slowing the spread of the epidemic and preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, many family planning providers do not see their roles as encompassing disease prevention. To encourage providers to discuss both family planning and disease prevention, and to encourage clients to use dual-protection methods, dual-protection counseling and provision of the female condom were introduced in six family planning clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria. Structured observations of interactions between clients and service providers, clinic service statistics, provider interviews, and other qualitative and quantitative methods were used to assess family planning providers’ promotion of dual protection.

Following intensive training, providers delivered dual-protection counseling to a majority of clients and demonstrated the female condom to 80 percent of the new clients observed. Discussion of the sexual behavior of clients and their partners, of the relative ability of various contraceptives to protect against HIV infection and of how to negotiate condom use increased significantly, as did STI assessment. Providers’ internalization of the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention was crucial to promoting and sustaining the dual-protection initiative. Condom purchases increased from a baseline of 2 percent of all family planning visits in 1999 to 9 percent by 2001. This increase resulted mainly from acceptance of the female condom, used either alone or in conjunction with another contraceptive.

Integrating dual-protection counseling and female condom provision into family planning services appeared feasible, as was service providers’ acceptance of dual-protection objectives. While providers and clients are key to transforming family planning to dual-protection services, the attitudes and behaviors of clients’ male partners also must be considered in gauging the success of the dual-protection intervention.

Location

Ibadan, Nigeria

Duration

July 1999–October 2002

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Ellen Weiss

Non-Council collaborators

Lawrence Adeokun (Association for Reproductive and Family Health)

Donors

US Agency for International Development

Association for Reproductive and Family Health

Publications/Resources
Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2002
Adeokun, Lawrence, Joanne E. Mantell, Eugene Weiss, Grace Ebun Delano, Temple Jagha, Jumoke Olatoregun, Dora Udo, Stella Akinso, and Ellen Weiss. “Promoting dual protection in family planning clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria,” International Family Planning Perspectives 28(2): 87–95.

2001
Horizons Program. "Promoting dual protection within family planning services in Nigeria," Horizons Research Update. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)