Women's choice between indigenous and western contraception in urban Mozambique

Research on women's reproductive behavior and family planning in developing countries is usually focused on western contraceptive methods and rarely a ddresses 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 riv als that of western methods. Based on qualitative data collected in Greater Maputo, Mozambique, in 1993, this study explores and analyzes women's choi ce between western methods-mainly oral contraceptives, intra-uterine device s and injectables-available from state-run family planning clinics, and ind igenous contraception, a combination of herbal and magical medicine, provid ed by traditional healers. The study demonstrates that women's choice betwe en the two types of methods is determined by their sociodemographic charact eristics and cultural background, access to these methods, perceptions of t he effectiveness and undesirable side-effects of these methods, and by rest rictions imposed by the providers. Although indigenous methods may not comp ete with western contraception in the long run, their present-day persisten ce warrants the attention of scholars and policymakers who intend to integr ate women's concerns and constraints in the design of family planning syste ms.