Table 2

Information sources and services used: strengths and limitations

Resources identified for reproductive information and contraception	Used for	Groups using/excluded
Clinics run by local non-governmental organisation	STIs, contraceptives and pregnancy-related information	Reproductive aged married women; mostly mothers
Duka la Dawa (pharmacy)	Medicines and occasionally information on STIs and contraceptives	Reproductive aged women Young unmarried women use these services secretively
Public health facilities	Antenatal services; not seen as a source of information Clinics in the ward are first point of contact The closest health centre (outside the ward) is a source for STD testing (which is not available at the clinics) Hospitals (two wards away) were viewed as offering better services for maternal health.	Only 25% women reported accessing public health facility for pregnancy care Public hospitals used by married women with supportive husbands who are willing to bear transportation costs, while geographical distance of Clinics make them more accessible to women seeking service without husbands’ knowledge Sukuma and Maasai women indicated higher discomfort accessing local public health facilities, Maasai women tend to go into the city of Mbeya to access larger hospital for emergencies
Women in the community	Information regarding pregnancy and menstruation (older women as a resource) Contraceptives and sexual health issues (peers)	First point of accessing information for most participants Young girls relied on peers; reproductive aged women relied on older women Only 48.83% of respondents indicated they were comfortable talking to their daughters about reproductive issues including fertility and menstruation
Schools	Basic information on reproduction through curriculum, though participants reported potential changes to add more SRH for younger generations	Only reaching young girls Cited as a potential reason for mothers’ not discussing SRH issues with their daughters at home
Mganga wa Asili (witchdoctors/traditional doctors)	Minor illness such as fever and STIs Local medicines for fertility and pregnancy prevention, and abortions	Identified by both providers as well as many women users as being the most used Most used by Sukuma and Maasai women; abortion services were most used by younger women Not used by Christians, with the exception of Maasai women

SRH, Sexual and Reproductive Health; STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease; STI, Sexually Transmitted Infection.