Perception and Use of Contraceptives Amongst Couples in Cameroon: An Anthropological Qualitative Approach in Urban and Semi-Urban Contexts of Yaoundé

Abstract

Reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, faces challenges from high fertility rates, unintended pregnancies, and modest modern contraceptive prevalence despite near-universal awareness. This qualitative anthropological study explores perceptions and practices of contraceptive use among couples in urban and semi-urban Yaoundé, Cameroon. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with diverse informants (predominantly women, aged 24-50, varying in marital status, profession, religion, and education) conducted in November 2025, the research employs thematic analysis to examine knowledge, side effects, couple communication, religious/cultural influences, and decision-making. Findings reveal high awareness of modern methods (e.g., pills, condoms, emergency contraception) but selective, intermittent use hindered by experiential side effects (e.g., irregular bleeding, perceived bodily rejection), fears of infertility, and socio-cultural reservations. While benefits like birth spacing and maternal health are acknowledged, barriers include gender asymmetries in responsibility and nuanced religious interpretations. Grounded in medical anthropology (Helman, 2007), socio-cultural critiques (Fassin, 2010), and gender/power dynamics (Blanc, 2001; Giddens, 2009), the study highlights couple communication as a facilitator and advocates for context-sensitive interventions that are couple-centered counseling, side-effect management, and religious engagement to bridge the knowledge-use gap. These insights inform policies toward Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 in Cameroon's evolving urban reproductive landscape.