Table 5.
Myths or beliefs and traditional misconceptions heard by married womens in the reproductive age in Debre Markos town, North West Ethiopia, April 2012
| Variables | N (%) | |
|---|---|---|
|
Heard myths (N = 519) |
Yes |
246 (47.4) |
|
No |
273 (52.6) |
|
|
Implants myths (N = 164) |
Prevents from daily work (weakens, tingling & numbness of arm/hand) |
82 (50.0) |
| It brings menstrual abnormalities |
55 (33.5) |
|
| It has many health problems |
26 (15.9) |
|
| It makes infertile |
20 (12.2) |
|
| It makes irritable or brings behavioral change |
20 (12.2) |
|
| Brings hypertension or raises blood pressure |
19 (11.6) |
|
| It causes headache and blurring of vision |
17 (10.4) |
|
| Weight loss or makes thin |
16 (9.8) |
|
| Others* |
17 (10.4) |
|
|
IUDs myths (N = 79) |
It makes infertile |
33 (41.8) |
| It brings/causes genital infection |
17 (21.5) |
|
| It has many health problems |
17 (21.5) |
|
| Causes menstrual irregularity |
11 (13.9) |
|
| It may decompose within the womb/uterus |
8 (10.1) |
|
| High chance of expulsion & pregnancy may occur |
6 (7.6) |
|
| Interferes with sexual activity |
5 (6.3) |
|
| Others ** |
21 (26.6) |
|
|
Female sterilizations myths (N = 26) |
Makes infertile |
10 (38.5) |
| It has many health problems and life threatening |
7 (26.9) |
|
| It needs major operation |
4 (15.4) |
|
| Predispose to uterine infection |
4 (15.4) |
|
| Decreases sexual desire |
3 (11.5) |
|
|
Vasectomies myths (N = 22) |
Inability to erect or weakens penis/impotency |
20 (90.9) |
| It has health problems | 3 (13.6) | |
*weight gain, facial change, cause to have twin pregnancy, decrease sexual desire.
**decrease sexual desire, burning genitalia, brings uterine cancer, abdominal distention.