[ Facteurs socioculturels influençant l’adoption de la planification familiale chez les femmes mariées en âge de procréer en milieu rural: Cas du centre de santé de référence de Kyondo Kya Mbidi, de la zone de santé de Kabongo, de Janvier 2024 à Décembre 2025 ]
Kabongo Nshimba Napoléon1, Ilunga Kalenga Ilus2, Ngoy Ilunga Mulume Sage3, Kalenga Wa Nkulu Fulgence4, Kizito Gasa Christian5, and Ngoy Mulunda Charly6
1 Departement Informatique, Institut Supérieur Pédagogique, Kabongo, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
2 Département des soins infirmiers, institut supérieur des techniques médicales de mulongo, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
3 Département des sciences humaines, université de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
4 Département des sciences infirmières, institut supérieur des techniques médicales de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
5 Département des sciences de santé, institut supérieur des techniques professionnelles et appliquées, Lualaba, RD Congo
6 Département de gestion, institut supérieur pédagogique de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Family planning is a fundamental component of reproductive health and an important driver of sustainable development. It enables couples and individuals to freely determine the number and spacing of their children, thereby contributing to the reduction of maternal and child mortality, the improvement of family well-being, and the empowerment of women. Despite the efforts made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its partners, the use of modern contraceptive methods remains low, particularly in rural areas. This study examines the sociocultural factors influencing the adoption of family planning among married women in the Kabongo Territory, Haut-Lomami Province. Based on a review of scientific literature, the findings indicate that several barriers limit access to and use of family planning services. These factors include social norms favoring large families, gender inequalities in household decision-making, religious and cultural beliefs, and insufficient knowledge of contraceptive methods. The influence of family members and the wider community also plays a significant role in the acceptance and use of contraception. Furthermore, limited reproductive health services, long distances to healthcare facilities, and economic constraints increase difficulties in accessing family planning methods. This situation contributes to the persistence of low contraceptive prevalence in rural areas compared with urban settings. The findings highlight the need for an integrated approach that takes local sociocultural realities into account. Strengthening community awareness, involving religious and traditional leaders, improving access to reproductive health services, and promoting women’s education are essential strategies for increasing the adoption of family planning in the Kabongo Territory.
Author Keywords: family planning, sociocultural factors, contraceptive adoption, married women, rural area.
Kabongo Nshimba Napoléon1, Ilunga Kalenga Ilus2, Ngoy Ilunga Mulume Sage3, Kalenga Wa Nkulu Fulgence4, Kizito Gasa Christian5, and Ngoy Mulunda Charly6
1 Departement Informatique, Institut Supérieur Pédagogique, Kabongo, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
2 Département des soins infirmiers, institut supérieur des techniques médicales de mulongo, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
3 Département des sciences humaines, université de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
4 Département des sciences infirmières, institut supérieur des techniques médicales de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
5 Département des sciences de santé, institut supérieur des techniques professionnelles et appliquées, Lualaba, RD Congo
6 Département de gestion, institut supérieur pédagogique de Malemba-Nkulu, Haut-Lomami, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Family planning is a fundamental component of reproductive health and an important driver of sustainable development. It enables couples and individuals to freely determine the number and spacing of their children, thereby contributing to the reduction of maternal and child mortality, the improvement of family well-being, and the empowerment of women. Despite the efforts made by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its partners, the use of modern contraceptive methods remains low, particularly in rural areas. This study examines the sociocultural factors influencing the adoption of family planning among married women in the Kabongo Territory, Haut-Lomami Province. Based on a review of scientific literature, the findings indicate that several barriers limit access to and use of family planning services. These factors include social norms favoring large families, gender inequalities in household decision-making, religious and cultural beliefs, and insufficient knowledge of contraceptive methods. The influence of family members and the wider community also plays a significant role in the acceptance and use of contraception. Furthermore, limited reproductive health services, long distances to healthcare facilities, and economic constraints increase difficulties in accessing family planning methods. This situation contributes to the persistence of low contraceptive prevalence in rural areas compared with urban settings. The findings highlight the need for an integrated approach that takes local sociocultural realities into account. Strengthening community awareness, involving religious and traditional leaders, improving access to reproductive health services, and promoting women’s education are essential strategies for increasing the adoption of family planning in the Kabongo Territory.
Author Keywords: family planning, sociocultural factors, contraceptive adoption, married women, rural area.
Abstract: (french)
La planification familiale constitue un élément fondamental de la santé reproductive et un levier important du développement durable. Elle permet aux couples et aux individus de choisir librement le nombre de leurs enfants ainsi que l’espacement des naissances, contribuant ainsi à la réduction de la mortalité maternelle et infantile, à l’amélioration du bien-être familial et à l’autonomisation des femmes. Malgré les efforts déployés par le gouvernement de la République Démocratique du Congo et ses partenaires, l’utilisation des méthodes contraceptives modernes demeure faible, particulièrement en milieu rural. Cette étude analyse les facteurs socioculturels influençant l’adoption de la planification familiale chez les femmes mariées du territoire de Kabongo, dans la province du Haut-Lomami. À partir d’une revue de la littérature scientifique, il ressort que plusieurs obstacles limitent l’accès et l’utilisation des services de planification familiale. Parmi ces facteurs figurent les normes sociales favorisant les familles nombreuses, les inégalités de genre dans la prise de décision au sein du ménage, certaines croyances religieuses et culturelles, ainsi que le faible niveau d’information sur les méthodes contraceptives. L’influence des membres de la famille et de la communauté constitue également un facteur déterminant dans l’acceptabilité des pratiques contraceptives. Par ailleurs, l’insuffisance de la couverture des services de santé reproductive, l’éloignement des structures sanitaires et les contraintes économiques renforcent les difficultés d’accès aux méthodes de planification familiale. Cette situation contribue au maintien d’une faible prévalence contraceptive en milieu rural comparativement aux zones urbaines. Les résultats soulignent la nécessité d’adopter une approche intégrée tenant compte des réalités socioculturelles locales. Le renforcement de la sensibilisation communautaire, l’implication des leaders religieux et coutumiers, l’amélioration de l’accès aux services de santé reproductive et la promotion de l’éducation des femmes apparaissent comme des stratégies essentielles pour accroître l’adoption de la planification familiale dans le territoire de Kabongo.
Author Keywords: planification familiale, facteurs socioculturels, adoption contraceptive, femmes mariées, milieu rural.
