Woman-centeredness of family planning care and associated factors in a semi-urban health district in West Cameroon.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the woman-centeredness of family planning (FP) care and determine its correlates in West Cameroon.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study from August to November 2024 in the Mifi Health District (MHD). We included women receiving FP care in all the public health facilities. We collected data were using the person-centered FP care scale (PCFPS). Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed with R software. Respondents' characteristics were summarized, and woman-centeredness scores computed using the PCFPS guide. We used the cutoff threshold technique to distinguish high and low scores. Bivariate and multivariate linear regressions were conducted to determine the correlates of woman-centeredness of FP care. Regression coefficients with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed with a significance threshold of 5%.

RESULTS

The median (range) woman-centeredness score for the 179 respondents was 73.33% (12.22-88.88). Specifically, the median (range) score (76.38% [8.33-91.66]) for woman's respect and autonomy was higher than that (61.11% [5.55-100]) for health facility environment. The FP care woman-centeredness score at the district hospital was seven-point higher than in first-level primary healthcare facilities (a.Coefficient: 7.33; 95% CI: 1.11-13.56; P = 0.02). Likewise the woman-centeredness score of FP care for women with a monthly income ≤100 USD was significantly lower than for women earning >300 USD monthly (a.Coefficient: -6.98; 95% CI: -12.96 to -1.01; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

FP care in the MHD was highly women centered. However, FP care was less likely to be woman-centered for low-income women and for those attending first-level primary health care facilities.