Pickering, Joyce(PhD)Kebede, Fekreab2018-08-062023-11-052018-08-062023-11-051989-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/11072A case control study has been conducted in Tegulet and Bulga Awraja/district, Northern Shoa Administrative Region. The purpose of the study was to assess the various characteristics influencing modern contraception usage among users as compared to never-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 150 users, 115 never users and 49 dropouts were interviewed. EKaminat ~ on of the various socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics showed significant differences in most of the variables between users and never-users. compared to never-users, users were older (mean age 27.1 years versus 25.9 years), more likely to be married (56% versus 47 %) or divorced (31% versus 25%), have a higher mean educational level (grade 5.3 versus 4.8), are more likely to work outside the horne for cash payment (43% versus 28%), belong to the high income class (30% versus 17%) and have more ch il dren (2 live-children or more) (72% versus 45%). vii The vast ma j ority of users ( 95%) scored 3 and above in modern contraception knowledge whereas only 51% of the never-users scored so high. Ni nety percent of the users' husbands scored 3 and above on modern contraceptive knowledge while only 71% of never-us ers' 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 months 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 refil l interval compared to users (1 9% versus 10%) . viii J Multiple regression showed that of the variables measured, the number of pregnancies a woman had had, modern contraception knowledge and age, were the main predictors of usage of modern contraception (R2 = .13). Desire t o 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 opposition (7%) as the major reasons for discontinuatlon of modern contraception. Recommendations have been given based on the outcome of the study.enCharacteristics Influencing UsageThesis