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Objectives: According to standard models of the demographic transition, decreases in the total fertility rate and increases in the contraceptive prevalence rate are lagging in Burkina Faso, compared with other development indicators. Several theories have been proffered to explain why Burkinabé women use contraceptives so infrequently, but few studies have explicitly focused on fear of side-effects from hormonal methods. This qualitative study examines why fear of side-effects—infertility in particular—resonates so strongly in this context and explores the impact on contraceptive uptake.

Methods: Sixty semistructured interviews were conducted with heads of poor households, and structured observations were conducted in six health facilities that offer family planning services in Ouagadougou's periurban areas. Inductive content analysis was used to elucidate and describe emergent themes.

Results: Fear of …