Husbands’ concerns and experiences with the progesterone vaginal ring in three sub-Saharan African countries: a mixed methods study

Figures & data

Table 1. Women’s perspectives of husbands’ experiences with PVR in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal

Indicator	Percent
Husband felt the ring during sexual intercourse	(N = 223)^a
No, never	64.6
Yes, sometimes/always	29.6
Don’t know/did not answer	5.8
Ring affected husband’s sexual pleasure	(N = 223)^a
No, never	76.2
Yes, sometimes/always	15.3
Don’t know/did not answer	8.5
Change in husband’s sexual pleasure when using the ring	(N = 223)^a
No change	74.0
Increase	17.5
Decrease	3.6
Don’t know/did not answer	4.9

^a Total number of cycles of use among women interviewed at 3-month and/or 6-month follow-up in all three countries.

Figure 1. a: Reasons for PVR discontinuation among women in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal b: Decision-maker regarding PVR discontinuation

Note: Multiple responses were allowed in both cases; Number of discontinuations: 34; Source: Women’s interviews

Table

DISCONTINUATION QUESTIONS
1	For how long did you use the Ring before stopping? [FOR TERMINATION DURING SECOND CYCLE, REFER TO SECOND RING]	Less than 1 month	1
		1–2 months	2
		2–3 months	3
		Don’t remember	4
2	What were the reasons for stopping to use the Ring? [DO NOT READ LIST. CIRCLE ALL MENTIONED AND PROBE BY ASKING ‘ANY OTHER?’]	Personal discomfort	1
		Unease with ring	2
		Removed and didn’t reinsert	3
		Inadvertent expulsion and loss of Ring	4
		Feeling the ring slip	5
		Amenorrhea	6
		Irregular bleeding	7
		Prolonged bleeding (>7 days)	8
		Heavy bleeding	9
		Medical reasons	10
		Planning pregnancy	11
		Want to use other family planning methods	12
		Reduced breastfeeding (less than 4 breastfeeds per day)	13
		Husband/partner discomfort/unease with the Ring	14
		Became pregnant	15
		Other (specify)_______________________________	16
		Did not answer	17
3	Who made the decision that you stop using the Ring? [DO NOT READ LIST. CIRCLE ALL MENTIONED AND PROBE BY ASKING ‘ANY OTHER?’]	Self	1
		Husband/partner	2
		Mother	3
		Mother-in-law	4
		Other family members	5
		Doctor	6
		Counselor	7
		Social worker	8
		Friends/neighbors	9
		Other (specify)______________________________	10
		Did not answer	11
QUESTIONS ON HUSBANDS’ SEXUAL EXPERIENCES
1	Have you been having sex with your husband/partner SINCE you started using the Ring?	Yes	1
		No	2	SKIP TO NEXT SECTION
		Does not remember	3
		Did not answer	4
2	Does your husband/partner always, sometimes or never feel the Ring during sexual intercourse?[READ OUT LIST. CIRCLE ONLY ONE RESPONSE]	Yes, always	1
		Yes, sometimes	2
		No, never]	3
		Don’t know	4
		Did not answer	5
3	Do you think that the Ring always, sometimes or never affects your husband’s/partner’s sexual pleasure? [READ OUT LIST. CIRCLE ONLY ONE RESPONSE]	Yes, always	1
		Yes, sometimes	2
		No, never	3
		Don’t know	4
		Did not answer	5
4	Do you think that there has been an increase, decrease or no change in your husband’s/partner’s sexual pleasure since you started using the Ring? [READ OUT LIST. CIRCLE ONLY ONE RESPONSE]	Increase	1
		Decrease	2
		No change	3
		Don’t know	4
		Did not answer	5

Data availability statement

The qualitative data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author [FO]. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants. The quantitative datasets that do not contain information that can be used to identify participants are available at: https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/RYLSTW.