FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW UTILIZATION OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN AGED 15-49 YEARS AT RWAMWANJA HCIII, KAMWENGE DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction:

Contraception refers to |the practice of utilizing contraceptive methods intended to prevent or space future pregnancy. Contraceptive use is reported as the actual utilization or intake of contraception in the last year.

Objectives: The broad objective was to determine factors associated with low utilization of contraceptives while specific objectives were to determine the knowledge of women aged 15-49 about contraceptives and facility-based factors affecting utilization of contraceptives by women aged 15-49 at Rwamwanja HC III.

Methodology:

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that employed a random sampling method and each participant was assessed using a pre-designed questionnaire.

 Results:

According to study100% were knowledgeable at least of one family planning method used by women in the reproductive age, pills (35.1%) were the most known method, followed by injections (25.9%), implants (19.5%), condoms (13%) and IUCD (6.5%) respectively. Distance, stockouts, health workers’ attitudes, and fear of side effects were the health-based factors that affected the utilization of contraceptives by women of reproductive age.

 Conclusion:

The respondents were highly knowledgeable about family planning methods with pills as the most known and IUCD being the least known. The majority of the respondents reported long distance as their main hindrance to the utilization of FP services as it limited their access to the health facility while the least reported lack of privacy.

 Recommendation:

The government through the MoH extends the family planning services up to the village level to increase accessibility to all communities for example through awareness campaigns with help from community-based Resource Person and VHTs as well as enhancing the integration of lessons about family planning services into schools.