Journal of Women's Health Care
Open Access

Utilization of Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods and Associated Factors among Married Women of Reproductive Age Group in Goba Town, Southeast Ethiopia

Ahmed Yasin Mohammed, Tilahun Ermeko^* and Abate Lette Wodera ^*Correspondence: Tilahun Ermeko, Department of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Ethiopia, Tel: +251909648032, Email:

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Background

In 2002 the world population projection is just over nine billion. Because of poor family planning services and poor attitudes in many parts of the world earth may be forced to accommodate many more than this number [1]. Developing countries have made much progression expanding availability and use of FP service. Thus the need for effective contraception in general and long acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) in particular is a large and growing; because the largest cohorts in human history are entering their reproductive years. More than half of a billion people will use contraceptive in developing countries by 2015, an increase of 200 million over level of use in 2000 [2].

Contraceptive prevalence and fertility rates vary substantially among developing countries. In some countries of Asia and Latin America at least three fourth of married women use contraceptive methods. In contrast in sub-Saharan African countries, less than 80% of married women use contraceptive [3,4]. Fertility rate 2.3 children per women in Vietnam and 7.2 in Niger [5]. The rate of use of long-term methods was found to be almost negligible; it ranged from 0.4% to 5.9% and exceeded 5% only in Namibia, Kenya and Malawi. Moreover, percentage-point increases in the use of long-term methods had been small to negligible and five countries (Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Senegal) had experienced a reversal trend in use [6].

A number of factors could contribute to lack of availability and access to LAPMs; these factors include opposition to use, lack of knowledge, method related reason and fertility related reason could act as barriers to LAPMs use [7-11]. The accessibility of LAPMs inhibited by higher cost to individual or the ministry of health, lack of trained providers and wide availability of short acting method in rural areas where most people live and distant to clinics and medical barriers [12].

One of targets the ministry of health (MOH) with respect to improving maternal and child health, is to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate to 66% by 2015. In order to achieve this target, the ministry has given priority to provision of safe maternal hood services such as FP in the community [4].

Ethiopia is one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality. The major causes of mortality are unsafe abortion, bleeding, infection, hypertensive diseases during pregnancy and obstructed labor [3]. Total fertility in Ethiopia is 4.8 births per women. In rural area women bear an average of 5.5 children in urban area 2.6 children nearly half of their rural counterparts and population growth rate is 2.13 which makes Ethiopia the second most populous in Africa [4].

Since the prevalence of LAPMs is very low in Goba town before decades, we are going to reassess prevalence, knowledge, attitude and factor associated with use of the methods among married women of reproductive age group in the town [13-22].

Methods

Study design, area and period

A community based cross -sectional study was conducted from January to February 2017 in Goba town. Goba town is found in Bale zone, Oromia region south east Ethiopia which is 455 km far from Addis Ababa. The town is divided in to east and west with total population of 50,650. About 52.1% population are female 47.9% of population are male. The town has one hospital and five private clinics.

Sample size determination

The sample size was determined by using single population for finite population with 95% confidence interval, degree of accuracy (d) of 5% and the prevalence (p) was calculated by using similar study done in Goba town and calculated from knowledge of LAPMs which was 66.7%(13), 5% non-response rate and the final sample size calculated to be 358.

Sampling technique

The household was chosen at regular interval using systematic sampling technique sampling frame which is 6273 and sample size is 358. The sampling fraction will be 6273/358=17.The first household will be selected randomly out of 17, it is 10 and the other household will select as followed 10+17,10+34,10+51,10+68…… until 358 women will be selected.

Data collection tools

The data collection was performed using structured questioners for interview. The interviewer administer questioner have socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of LAMPs of family planning questions. The data collectors (student) were collected the data from women of reproductive age group in Goba town. The questionnaire was translated from English to local language (Afan Oromo) by independent translators.

Data quality control

Questionnaires were translated from English to local language (Afan Oromo) by independent translators. Before data collection data collectors were discuss on how to collect data, and then it was collected properly. After each data collection day, the completeness of the data was reviewed.

Data analysis

SPSS 22 was used for data entry, editing and analysis. Frequencies and percentage of different variables was computed for description as appropriate. And association of dependent and independent variable was assessed by cross tabulating (Chi-square test). Result was presented by numbers, percent and tables.

Ethical consideration

The data collection was carried out after approval of the research proposal by the Ethical clearance of MWU College of medicine and health science. A verbal informed consent was obtained from individual participants before data collection and all participants in the study were asked that participation is on voluntary basis.

Results

Socio-demographic characteristics

In this study a total of 358 married women of reproductive age group were included with response rate 98.9% (354). Majority of the respondents 91(25.7) were in the age group of 25-29. The ethnicity of the respondents were Oromo 188(53.1%) followed by Amhara 144(40.7%). The religion of most respondents was Orthodox 228(64.4%) followed by Muslim 89 (25.1). Thirty seven (10.5%) of respondents had no education and 96 (27.1%) respondents had educational level of grade 9-12. Majority of study subjects were housewife 247(69.8%), followed by governmental employee 42(11.9%) and their partners were governmental employee 134(37.9%) next to this privet employee account 93(17.8%). Two hundred forty eight (70.1%) respondents have television (Table 1).

Table 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of study participant.

Reproductive characteristics

Among study subjects, 79(22.3%) of respondents want to give birth within two years; while 275(77.7%) do not need have child within this year, 130(47.3%) for limiting, 98(35.6%) for spacing and 47(17.1%) have other reason. From the total study subjects most of the respondents 174(49.2%) have 3-4 children in their life, 92(26%) 1-2 and 85(24%) want to have 5 and more children in their life. Majority of our respondents 249(78.8%) have discussed about family planning methods with their partner. Also majority 276(78%) of giving decision on number of children to have is by both husband (Table 2).

Table 2: Reproductive characteristics of study participants.

Knowledge towards modern contraceptives

Three hundred twenty (90.4%) of participant know about modern contraceptives of this pills 315(89%), injectable 310(87.6%), implant 223(62.99%), IUCD 176(49.7%), female sterilization 101(28.5%), male sterilization 63(17.8%) and condom 236(66.6%). Health professionals were identified as the most commonly mentioned source of information for the first time on methods of modern contraceptive which account182 (56.2%). From the total study subjects 225(63.6%) respondents were know about LAPMs. Of this, 120(53.1%) had message on LAPMs through television (81%), in the last 12 months. The most known LAPMs of contraceptive were Implant 224(99.5%) and the least known was male sterilization 62(27.5%). The majority of the respondents 223(99.1%) knows that LAPMs can prevent unwanted pregnancy. One hundred seventy-three (76.9%) women were know about IUCD prevent pregnancy for more than five years and 111(49.3%) were know that it can be reversed immediately. Two hundred fifty (95.6%) and 153(68%) women know that implant is long term and require minor surgical procedure respectively. Only 39(17.3%) of respondents knows that implant has no effect on breast feeding (Table 3).

Table 3: Knowledge towards modern contraceptive.

Attitude towards LAPMs

One hundred seventy six (49.7%) of the respondents were discussed about the LAPMs with their partner or friends. Of the total study population 261(73.7%) support using LAPMs and 193(54.5%) have intention to use LAPMs. One hundred sixty eight (47.5%) of participants partner`s support using LAPMs and the most responsible body to practice contraception were both wife and husband 192 (54.2%) (Table 4).

Table 4: Attitudes towards LAPMs of the study participants.

Practice of modern contraceptives

Currently 215(60.7%) of the study population are using modern contraceptives. Injectable 98(45.6%) is commonly used method, followed by implant 47(21.9) (Figure 1). Need to be pregnant is the most common reason of not using contraceptive, 43(30.7%). Most commonly mentioned source family planning methods for current using is governmental hospital 130(62.8%) (Table 5).

Figure 1. Current use of contraceptive among mothers.

Table 5: Practice of modern contraceptives and intention to use LAPMs.

Factors associated with utilization of LAPMs

Age, educational level, number of alive children, discussion with partner about FP , knowledge about LAPMs ,support using LAPMs , partners attitude toward using LAPMs, intention to use LAPMs, discussion about LAPMs with partners and knowledge about LAPMs have statistically significant association with utilization of LAPMs with chi –square test and p-value <0.05 (Table 6).

Table 6: Factors associated with utilization of LAPMs.

Discussion

The overall utilization modern contraceptive was 60.7%. OF this LAPMs utilization was (18.9 %) from this implant, IUCD, female sterilization and male sterilization accounts 13.3%,4.5%,0.8% and 0.3% respectively. which is higher than the prevalence reported in Goba 8.7% [13]. This might be due to increase in access to service, availability of health extension workers and continues promotion of contraceptives through media. Similar study also conducted on Mekele town show that the overall utilization of LAPMs was 12.3%, from this implant and IUCD counts 87% and 13% respectively. This discrepancy might be due to difference in resident of study participants and study period. The major source to obtain contraceptive for married women was a governmental health facility (72.5%). This result was similar with finding of EDHS 2011 (82%) and Mekele (83%) [4,11].

The reason cited by women who did not use modern contraceptive were fear of side effect (15.7%), want to be pregnant (30.7%,) current pregnancy (16.4%), exclusive breast feeding and other (27.9%). However, in the study conducted in Mekele town the main reason cited by marred women for not using LAPMs was the use of another method of contraceptives 93.3%, developing side effect 3.9%, not allowed by husband and medical problem 1.6% and the non-availability of service 1.3% [11]. In this study majority of respondents did not want to have a child with in two years for the reason that limiting 47.3% than spacing 35.6%.

This study showed those 90.4% respondents were known about modern contraceptive. Of this pills 89%, injectable 87.6%, implant 63.5%, IUCD 49.9%, female sterilization 28.2%, male sterilization 17.5% and condom 66.4%.Similarly research done in Nigeria on community based study of contraceptives behaviours shows that most known type of modern contraceptive was pills (32.3%), followed by injectable(28.2%), condom (28.2%) and IUCD (18.5%) [14-17]. According to 2011 EDHS report knowledge of modern contraceptive among married women were 97.4%, the most known modern contraceptives was injectable which accounts 96.1% followed by pills (92.6%), condom 78.1%, implant 69.2%, female sterilization 39.8%, IUCD 26.4% and the least known is male sterilization (10.8%) [14]. Research conducted in butajira about 99% of women knew modern contraceptives of this 97.8%,97.5%,82%,81.9%,74.4% and 13.1% knew injectable ,pills, vasectomy, condom, Norplant and IUCD respectively. This difference might be due to availability of health extension worker and difference in setting area [20].

The overall knowledge of respondent about LAPMs was 63.6%. Of this the most known type was implant (99.5%) followed by IUCD (78.2%), female sterilization (28.2%) and male sterilization (27.5%). Another research conducted in Batu on demand for LAPMs and associated factor FP service users knowledge about LAPMs was 58.3%; implant was the most common known method account 94% followed by IUCD 49.6%, female sterilization 9% and male sterilization 7.8% [18-22]. The reason for this discrepancy is due to the difference in study area and time of data collection.

Among respondents who knew about LAPMs 99.1%, 86.7%, 52.9% and 39.1% knew that LAPMs used for prevention of unwanted prevention, child spacing, limiting family size and preventing maternal and child death in general respectively. According to this study of respondent knew that IUCD used for long term, immediately reversible, very effective, minimal side effect which account 76.6%, 49.3%, 38.2% and 23.1%respectivly. And only 8.9% knew that IUCD is not good for female at high risk for long term effect (95.6%) and others identified use of implant were immediate reversibility (62.1%), minimal side effect 25.3% and absence of effect on breast feeding (17.3%). Twenty seven point six percent of respondent knew that male sterilization is used for permanent effect and only 4% knew that full effectiveness of male sterilization after three month of procedure. In addition to this, 42.7% knew that irreversible effect of female sterilization and 8.9% did not know long term side effect.in contrast to this the study conducted in Mekele showed among the married women 77.5% and 44.4% had awareness on the advantage of LAPMs for prevention of unwanted pregnancy and helps to have planned family, 37.8% of the women were knew that IUCD can prevent pregnancy for 10 years, 42.5% were not sure of IUCD is good for female at risk of acquiring STI and 48% and 62.2% of the women aware of that IUCD has no influence on sexual intercourse and it results immediate pregnancy after removal respectively in addition to this the majority of married women 69.7% aware that implants result immediate pregnancy after removal and 33% of married women knew that male sterilization has no influence on sexual intercourse [11].

This study shows that 49.7% were discussed about LAPMs with their partner/friends and 73.7% support using LAPMs. More over 47.5% of their partner support using LAPMs and 17.2% opposes using LAPMs. Both husband and wife (54.2%) were responsible to practice contraception while husband and wife alone 1.1% and 44.6% respectively. In this study support using LAMPs, women educational status and discussion with partner about LAPMs were statically significant association with utilization of LAPMs. A research done on Butajira town shows that discussion with partner about LAPMs, women educational status and support using LAPMs were significant association with utilization of LAPMs. In addition, in this study intention to use LAPMs, partner attitude towards LAPMs, age and knowledge about LAPMs had also statically significant association with utilization of LAPMs. Despite of this monthly income, religion, partner education level, number children and decider on number of to have were not statically significant association with utilization of LAPMs.

This study had limitation in terms not including men as study participant to explore the difference in knowledge, attitude and practice between men and women. It did not particularly ask the involvement of men in the utilization of family planning and their intention towards its use. Farther more as it is crosses sectional study it was difficult to know which occurred first cause and effect.

Conclusion

Utilization of LAPMs of contraceptive in the town was 18.9%. Knowledge of LAPMs was 63.6% and the most and the least known method was implant and vasectomy respectively. Governmental health facility is the main source of modern contraceptive for current utilization and the major source of information on modern contraceptives was health professionals. Majority of respondents support using LAPMs and more than half have intention to use LAPMs.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no any competing interests.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Madda Walabu University for supporting this study. We are also very grateful to data collectors and study participants to undertake this study.

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