Characteristics Influencing Usage of Modern Contraception
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Date
1989-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A c ase contro l study has been conduc ted in Tegulet and
Bulga Awraja/ district, No rthern Shoa Admini strative Region.
• The purpo s e o f t he study was to assess t he various
characteristics inf l u enc i ng modern con tra ception u s age among
users as compared to neve r-users and dropouts from family
planning clinics. A t otal of 848 women ages 15 - 49 were
interviewed. Among these , 41.4% were users while 42.1% and
16.5% were never-users and dropouts, respectively. In
addition, husbands of 1 50 users, 115 never users and 49
dropouts were interviewed.
Examinat i on of the various socio-demographic and
reproductive characte ristics showed significant differences
in most of the variables between users and never-users.
compared t o never-users, users were older (mean age 27.1
years versus 25. 9 y e ars), more likely to be married (56%
versus 47%) or divor ced (31% versus 25%), have a higher mean
educational level (grade 5.3 versus 4.8), are more likely to
work outside the home fo r c ash payment (43% versus 28%),
,
belong to the high income class (30% versus 17%) and have
more children (2 live-children or more) (72% versus 45%).The vast majority of users (95%) scored 3 and above in
modern contraception knowledge whereas only 51% of the
never-users soored so high. Ninety percent of the users'
husbands scored 3 and above on modern contraceptive
knowledge while only 71% of never-users' scored this high.
A higher approval of modern contraception and sex education
to school children was seen among users' husbands (99% and
88%. respectively) as compared to never-users (77% and 74%.
respectively). Husband-wife communication on family
planning was significantly higher among users (41%) than
never-users (15%).
Of the variables tested between users and dropouts very
few significant differences were demonstrated . Current
users had used modern contraception for a mean period of
23.5 month3 while dropouts had used it for a mean period of
17.9 months. A higher proportion of dropouts were found to
be dissatisfied with the method refill interval compared to
users (15% versus 10%). Multiple regression showed that of the variables measured,
the number o f pregnanc ies a woman had had, modern
contraception knowledge a nd age , were the main predictors of
')
usage of modern contrac eption (R· = .13).
Desire to have more children (40%), having no
husband/sexual partner (19%) and fear of adverse effects of
modern contraceptives (15%) were given as the major reasons
for nonuse of modern contraceptives by the never-users.
Dropouts cited the desire to have additional chil dren
(27%), becoming pregnant (21%), fear of adverse effects of
modern contraceptives (21%), no method refill (12%) and
husband oppoEition (7%) as the major reasons for
discontinuation of modern contraception.
Recomwendations have been given based on the outcome of
the study.