Agadjanian V
Department of Sociology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-2101, USA.
Women Health. 1998;28(2):1-17. doi: 10.1300/j013v28n02_01.
Research on women's reproductive behavior and family planning in developing countries is usually focused on western contraceptive methods and rarely addresses indigenous contraception, such as herbs, amulets, and charms that are believed to prevent pregnancy. However, the available data demonstrate that indigenous contraception is widely known, and its prevalence often rivals that of western methods. Based on qualitative data collected in Greater Maputo, Mozambique, in 1993, this study explores and analyzes women's choice between western methods-mainly oral contraceptives, intra-uterine devices and injectables-available from state-run family planning clinics, and indigenous contraception, a combination of herbal and magical medicine, provided by traditional healers. The study demonstrates that women's choice between the two types of methods is determined by their sociodemographic characteristics and cultural background, access to these methods, perceptions of the effectiveness and undesirable side-effects of these methods, and by restrictions imposed by the providers. Although indigenous methods may not compete with western contraception in the long run, their present-day persistence warrants the attention of scholars and policymakers who intend to integrate women's concerns and constraints in the design of family planning systems.
发展中国家关于女性生殖行为和计划生育的研究通常聚焦于西方避孕方法，很少涉及本土避孕方式，比如那些被认为能预防怀孕的草药、护身符和符咒。然而，现有数据表明本土避孕方法广为人知，其普及程度常常可与西方方法相媲美。基于1993年在莫桑比克马普托市收集的定性数据，本研究探讨并分析了女性在西方避孕方法（主要是口服避孕药、宫内节育器和注射剂，可从国营计划生育诊所获取）与本土避孕方法（由传统治疗师提供的草药和魔法药物的组合）之间的选择。研究表明，女性在这两种方法之间的选择取决于她们的社会人口特征和文化背景、获取这些方法的途径、对这些方法有效性和不良副作用的认知，以及提供者施加的限制。尽管从长远来看，本土方法可能无法与西方避孕方法竞争，但它们目前的持续存在值得那些打算在计划生育系统设计中纳入女性关切和限制因素的学者和政策制定者予以关注。
