Characteristics Influencing Usage of Modern Contraception
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Date
1989-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A case control study has been conducted in Tegulet and Bulga Awraja/ district, No rthern Shoa Admini strative Region.• The purpose of t he study was to assess t he various characteristics inf l u enc i ng modern contraception usage among users as compared to neve r-users and dropouts from family planning clinics. A total 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 characteristics 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 soured 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 pregnancies a woman had had, modern contraception knowledge and age , were the main predictors of') usage of modern contraception (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 children (27%), becoming pregnant (21%), fear of adverse effects of modern contraceptives (21%), no method refill (12%) and husband oppo eition (7%) as the major reasons for discontinuation of modern contraception.
Recommendations have been given based on the outcome of the study.