'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia

doi:10.1186/s12905-021-01226-3

. 2021 Mar 8;21(1):100.

doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01226-3.

'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia

Hankiz Dolan^{1

2}, Mu Li³, Deborah Bateson^{4

5}, Rachel Thompson^{3

6}, Chun Wah Michael Tam^{7

8}, Carissa Bonner^{3

6}, Lyndal Trevena^{3

6}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Room 125, Edward Ford Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. hekp5025@uni.sydney.edu.au.
² Ask, Share, Know: Rapid Evidence for General Practice Decision (ASK-GP), Centre for Research Excellence, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. hekp5025@uni.sydney.edu.au.
³ School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Room 125, Edward Ford Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁴ Family Planning NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2131, Australia.
⁵ Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁶ Ask, Share, Know: Rapid Evidence for General Practice Decision (ASK-GP), Centre for Research Excellence, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁷ Primary and Integrated Care Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia.
⁸ School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.

PMID: 33685463
PMCID: PMC7938530
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01226-3

'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia

Hankiz Dolan et al. BMC Womens Health. 2021.

. 2021 Mar 8;21(1):100.

doi: 10.1186/s12905-021-01226-3.

Authors

Hankiz Dolan^{1

2}, Mu Li³, Deborah Bateson^{4

5}, Rachel Thompson^{3

6}, Chun Wah Michael Tam^{7

8}, Carissa Bonner^{3

6}, Lyndal Trevena^{3

6}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Room 125, Edward Ford Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. hekp5025@uni.sydney.edu.au.
² Ask, Share, Know: Rapid Evidence for General Practice Decision (ASK-GP), Centre for Research Excellence, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia. hekp5025@uni.sydney.edu.au.
³ School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Room 125, Edward Ford Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁴ Family Planning NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2131, Australia.
⁵ Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁶ Ask, Share, Know: Rapid Evidence for General Practice Decision (ASK-GP), Centre for Research Excellence, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
⁷ Primary and Integrated Care Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia.
⁸ School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.

PMID: 33685463
PMCID: PMC7938530
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-021-01226-3

Abstract

Background: In Australia, ethnic Chinese people are one of the largest, youngest and fastest growing overseas-born groups. Yet, little is known about their perceptions of contraceptive methods and their experiences with choosing one. Decisions about contraceptive methods are preference sensitive. Understanding the influencing factors of Chinese migrant women's contraceptive method choice and practices will help cater to their decision-making needs in a culturally sensitive and responsive way.

Methods: A qualitative study design underpinned by critical realism approach was used to explore Chinese migrant women's perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 women who self-identified as being ethnically Chinese and had been living in Australia for no more than 10 years. The interview guide was adapted from the Ottawa Decision Support Framework. Majority of the interviews were conducted in Mandarin Chinese. Transcribed data was analysed using thematic analysis method.

Results: Four major themes were identified, including: 'every medicine is part poison: hormonal contraceptives cause harm to the body'; 'intrauterine device, a device used in the past for married women'; 'it takes two (or one) to decide, depending on the relationship dynamics and contraception preferences'; and 'it is not necessary to seek medical advice in choosing contraceptive methods'.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Chinese migrant women's perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods are influenced by complex personal, cultural, societal and inter-relational factors. Chinese migrant women were cautious of using hormonal methods due to fears of side-effects, including reduced or absent menstrual bleeding. Women were also reluctant to consider intrauterine devices as options due to associating them with past experiences of other women and themselves and also fears of potential complications. There was a reluctant attitude towards seeking medical advice regarding contraception due to beliefs that needing to use contraception is not an illness requiring treatment. Such findings are likely to be useful in increasing healthcare professionals' and policy makers' understanding of Chinese migrant women's contraceptive method preferences, beliefs and behaviours. They also help to develop culturally and linguistically sensitive strategies, which goes beyond the provision of contraceptive counselling, in assisting Chinese migrant women's decision-making needs.

Keywords: Chinese migrant women; Contraception; Critical realism; Decision-making.

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Conflict of interest statement

DB has been supported to attend educational events by Bayer Healthcare and MSD, both are manufacturers of contraceptives, and have attended advisory committees for these companies as part of her role at Family Planning New South Wales. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Overview of themes and subthemes

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Cultural diversity: who we are now. ABS, Canberra; 2017. https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2024.0Main%20Fea.... Accessed 15 Sept 2019.

[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Cultural diversity: who we are now. ABS, Canberra; 2017. https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2024.0Main%20Fea.... Accessed 15 Sept 2019.

[3] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Over 28 percent of Australians born overseas. ABS, Canberra; 2017. https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/3412.0Media%20Release120.... Accessed 19 Sept 2019.

[4] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Over 28 percent of Australians born overseas. ABS, Canberra; 2017. https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/3412.0Media%20Release120.... Accessed 19 Sept 2019.

[5] Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2016 census quickstats country of birth. ABS, Canberra; 2019. https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/cens.... Accessed 12 Sept 2019.

[6] Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2016 census quickstats country of birth. ABS, Canberra; 2019. https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/cens.... Accessed 12 Sept 2019.

[7] Australian Bureau of Statistics. ABS Chinese new year insights. ABS, Canberra; 2019. https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/D8CAE4F74B.... Accessed 12 Sept 2019.

[8] Australian Bureau of Statistics. ABS Chinese new year insights. ABS, Canberra; 2019. https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbytitle/D8CAE4F74B.... Accessed 12 Sept 2019.

[9] Starrs AM, Ezeh AC, Barker G, Basu A, Bertrand JT, Blum R, et al. Accelerate progress—sexual and reproductive health and rights for all: report of the Guttmacher–Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2018;391(10140):2642–2692. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30293-9PMID-29753597. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Starrs AM, Ezeh AC, Barker G, Basu A, Bertrand JT, Blum R, et al. Accelerate progress—sexual and reproductive health and rights for all: report of the Guttmacher–Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2018;391(10140):2642–2692. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)30293-9PMID-29753597. - DOI - PubMed

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'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia

Affiliations

'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

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Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

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Miscellaneous