There is this unspoken secrecy and silence when it comes to talking about or even using contraceptives among many couples, and for varied reasons which include tradition and religion.
Tradition seems the thorniest of all reasons given.
Many women complain that they do not even know how to raise the subject with their husbands or partners. Jane Chikamba, a married woman with five children, says it is an unspoken taboo to discuss family planning with a man, especially one who believes all contraceptives bring about diseases like cancer. But Chikamba is not the only one complaining about not have in the opportunity to talk to her partner about contraception, for Virginia Phiri is also beaten me four times because he found me taking the pill. Sex and sexuality are more than often the exclusive domain of African husband and as such if a wife initiates a discussion of family planning, she may threaten her husbands sense of control and create discord within the family. Indeed the culture of silence about sex and sexuality is very strong not only in Zambia.