ISSN: 2167-0420
Fekadu H, Kumera A, Yesuf EA, Hussien G and Tafa M
Background: Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. Total Fertility Rate of Ethiopia is 4.6 children per women, population growth rate is estimated to be 2.7% per year and contraceptive prevalence rate is only 29% while the unmet need for family planning is 34%. The prevalence of long acting contraceptive methods (LACMs) is very low.
Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the level of utilization of long acting contraceptive methods and explore its determinants among married women of reproductive age in Adaba town, West Arsi Zone, Oromia regional State, Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based cross sectional survey complemented with a qualitative method was conducted from March, 2016 to April, 2016 on selected Samples of 693 married women of reproductive age. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Logistic regression was carried out to see the effect of the independent variables on dependent variable.
Results: Long acting reversible contraceptive method utilization was 30.3%. Among the variables age of women and being involved in daily laborer type of occupation were found positively associated with long acting contraceptive methods use with the odds of age of women [AOR (95% CI) = 6.26 (1.92-20.45), 5.18 (1.63-16.5), 9.15 (2.57-32.52)], Occupation of women (daily laborer compared to housewife) [AOR (95% CI) = 5.75 (2.45-13.49)]. Similarly, educational status of being completed grade twelve compared to illiterate were found positively associated with long acting contraceptive methods use with the odds of educational status of women [AOR (95% CI) = 4.42 (1.11-17.62)], and also mothers who disagree IUD influences normal daily activity (i.e., positive attitudes towards long acting contraception) were 44.5 times [AOR = 44.5, (95% CI) = 9.13-216.8] more likely to utilize long acting reversible contraceptive than those who agree (had negative attitudes).
Conclusion: Prevalence of long acting contraceptive use is low coverage. Age, educational level, occupational status of the women and attitude towards IUCD were determinant factors identified. So, Health communication on long acting contraceptives should be directed to women of adolescent age (15-19), women who cannot read and write and housewives. Effort should be made to influence the attitude of women on IUCD.