Factors affecting utilization of family planning services among mothers delivering at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda

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Date
2019-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Family planning services have been implemented in Uganda for nearly 60 years. Initially the services were run by urban based Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and restricted to married women, either accompanied by the spouse or provided with a written document to confirm spousal acceptance. In Uganda, especially in rural districts like Kabarole the risk of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions remains high due to relatively low contraceptive use. A cross sectional study design was used. The study was conducted at fort portal regional referral hospital. Sample size was determined using a statistical formula adapted from Fishers. 100 participants were interviewed. Data was collected using open ended questionnaires. Data was electronically analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.1 and then be summarized and displayed. Out of the 100 respondents interviewed, 96 had heard about FP methods, of whom, 29% indicated that they had ever used FP, and 71% had never used FP. This means that though most of the respondents have heard about FP method, the level of usage was low. Also it was found that decision to use FP is largely influenced by closed relatives. Factors associated with low utilization included fear of infertility, and side effects, wanting children, religion and bleeding. The level of knowledge of contraceptive among the women in the district cuts across all ages, marital status and occupational backgrounds. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the respondents had heard about FP services whilst 4% indicated that they had never heard about the services. However, the knowledge does not commensurate with the use of contraceptives. There’s need for intensification of public education at the community level with major emphasis on the use of FP. Effort must be made to explain to the people the benefits as well as possible side effects of the method one may wish to use. This will enable the people to make an informed decision in relations to the use of FP. This is necessary because the present situation shows that most people have heard of FP methods but they are not using them.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Utilization of family planning services, Pregnant mothers, Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital
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