Mitike, Getnet(PhD)Tafese, Zergu2018-07-272023-11-052018-07-272023-11-052003-04http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/10281Comparative Community-based cross sectional study conducted in Gambella Town of Gambella Regional State, which is 777 kms away from Addis Ababa to the South west of the country. The study populations were women of reproductive age group residing in the urban area of Gambella woreda during the study period. Multistage sampling procedure was carried out to reach at the 936 households to be included in the survey. Simple random sampling technique was applied to select the respondent women when more than one women of reproductive age group resides in the same household. Data was collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire complemented by focus group discussion. The finding of the study revealed that there is statistically significant difference between indigenous and non-indigenous study groups by educational status, number of co-wives, intended number of children and length of postpartum sexual abstinence. Ninety six percent of the non-indigenous women and sixty two percent of the indigenous women have heard about modern contraceptive methods. The most commonly known contraceptive methods were oral pills and injectables. More than 50.0% of the non-indigenous women were used modern contraceptive methods in their lifetime while only 20.2% of the indigenous have ever tried. Current contraceptive prevalence was 11.5% among indigenous study women while it was 36.4% among non- indigenous group. Desire for more children and use of natural method like prolonged postpartum sexual abstinence were the reasons for non use among indigenous women while desire for more children and not currently engaged in viii wedlock were the most commonly reported reasons for non-use of modern contraceptive methods for non-indigenous women while It was found that the tradition of indigenous population enforces male partners to observe for prolonged postpartum sexual abstinence and their culture allows them to have multiple wives. More over, it was noted in the qualitative finding that once a women is engaged in wedlock it is must that she has to produce as many children as possible because children particularly daughters were assumed to be the source of family income and women can not make any decision related to reproductive matters which consequently influenced their modern contraceptive utilization. The result of multivariate analysis showed statistically significant association between age, marital status, number of co-wive, previous attendance of PNC previous health institution delivery, and modern contraceptive utilization. Women empowerment through education and looking for alternative sources of family planning delivery system and involving male partner in reproductive health issues were recommendedenHIV/AIDSThesis