Constrained Agency on Contraceptive Use among Somali Refugee Women in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya

Abstract

This report discusses constraints on contraceptive use and implications for family planning among Somali refugee women settled in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. It is based on a postgraduate study on the various perceptions and attitudes among Somali refugee women to contraception, and their interaction with family planning service providers. The study was conducted in two stages with 32 respondents, who included married and unmarried women and men between the ages of 19 and 58. The first stage included four focus group discussions with 22 participants, and explored general views on contraceptive use and family planning. The second stage comprised face-to-face individual interviews with 10 key respondents. The findings suggest that even though the majority of Somali refugee women do not use contraceptives, it is not by choice, but due to the numerous barriers they face. Hence, instead of supporting choice policy approaches, there is a need to redress their concerns about contraceptives and remove the constraints that hinder their use.

Key Words:

• Somali refugee women
• contraceptives
• family planning
• agency