About 40 per cent of women surveyed cited health concerns and fear of side effects as the primary reason behind their decision not to use contraception, the study, based on 10 years of data from the Cambodian Demographic and Health surveys, found. Meanwhile, close to 47 per cent of women cited infrequent sex, lack of fertility, or a desire to get pregnant as the reasons behind their decision.

While a fear of side effects is considered a common reason for women in developing countries to avoid contraception, the study determined that pluralistic medical systems – referring to Cambodia’s mix of private clinics, public health providers and traditional healers – and a lack of trust in the Cambodian health system at large could be contributing to the problem.

“Fear of side effects, stemming from both contraceptive experiences and notions of health and the body was found to be the greatest obstacle to the use of modern contraceptives,” the study reads. “This related more broadly to the pluralistic medical systems operating simultaneously and the varying levels of medicalization and trust in both bio-medicine and the Cambodian health system.”

In that context, behaviour that appears counter-intuitive becomes more understandable, the authors determined. Still, other experts say a lack of information about potential side effects is likely behind the trend.

While awareness about birth control methods is growing among Cambodian women, that doesn’t necessarily mean women have complete information about the side effects of each method, said Ashish Bajracharya, country representative at the Population Council, a research organisation that focuses on family planning.

“I don’t think the parallel system is the cause, but I think parallel systems lead to less information,” Bajracharya said.

“It would make sense that women are getting mixed messages, especially when there is an unregulated market, but I don’t know if there is any empirical data that objectively proves that,” he added.

Health experts argue that women need comprehensive health counselling in order to have accurate information about birth control methods. In Cambodia, opinions about birth control are often formed through rumour alone, health workers say.

“If there are side effects for one woman, the whole village knows about it,” said Lyn Huy, a program manager at Action for Health. “So what is really needed is counselling to dispel myths.”

I would like to know from the expats here who indulge in formnication with scarlets,do the ladies promptly suggest condom usage or is it negotiable?

Super gonorrhoea.

OP: You never heard of the Used Condom Police?

Jimmy Crow wrote: ↑Sat May 26, 2018 1:31 pm I would like to know from the expats here who indulge in formnication with scarlets,do the ladies promptly suggest condom usage or is it negotiable?

I wondered where this was heading. Starting off with quasi academic question, "Do khmers use contraceptives and condoms?", and quoting an un-referenced article from the Phnom Penh Post, "Misconceptions an obstacle to contraception use: study",and then immediately reverting to asking about the sexual behaviour of Khmer Prostitutes.

I was offered boom boom no condom twice at massage joints in Phnom Penh, and by a few different hostesses from bars. I produced my own of course, but if you are bold and dumb enough to try, condom usage can be negotiated.

I can understand someone who is pissed going without one, but sober and knowing the possible consequences? Doh

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Sat May 26, 2018 11:58 pm Contraceptives are viewed as something that only married women use and IUDs only after the first or couple of kids. From a few Khmer woman doctors. And of course from the quasi advice of the ones staffing the pharmacies around town.

That is absolute nonsense. There's a good reason why HIV rates have declined sharply here over the past couple of decades, and that is the widespread education about and use of condoms. This would not work if it was only used by married couples, it's casual sex which is the focus. For most sex-workers and just those sexually active, they are viewed as essential. This is nothing new or regional either.