Factors influencing utilization of contraceptives among women in reproductive age (15-49 years) in the Ashanti-Mampong municipality of Ashanti region

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Date
November 2015
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Abstract
Contraception is an important component of reproductive health due to its contribution to maternal health. Contraception helps to prevent unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion, and their related risks thus reducing the number of deaths related to pregnancy. Apart from this family planning which includes the use of contraceptives is said to contribute either directly or indirectly to realization of the millennium development goals as such contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was set as one of the indicators for measuring the success of target 5B (achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015) of the Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG5). However, the CPR in some parts of the world, especially Sub-Saharan Africa where Ghana is found is still low. The main objective of this study was to determine factors that influence the utilization of contraceptives, and also determine the use of LTRC among women within the reproductive age group in the Ashanti-Mampong Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana. Methods A cross sectional study was carried out between August and October, 2014 atAshanti-Mampong Municipality. Pretested questionnaires were administered through interview to 420 postpartum women who were more than six month post-delivery and were accessing CWC services in the Ashanti-Mampong Municipality. These women were randomly selected from 20 CWC which were also selected randomly from the Ashanti-Mampong Municipality. Checklist was used to obtain information from the family planning centres in the municipality. Results The current use of a contraceptive method in the Ashanti-Mampong municipality was 38.6%.However, only 0.6% and 9.3% of the contraceptive userswere usingIUD and implant respectively. The only factor found statistically to be associated with the use of a contraceptive method was the level of awareness about contraceptive methods (p=0.001). Although not statistically significant, the commonest reasons why women do not use contraceptives were fear of side effect and refusal by partner. Provision of IUD services was limited to only one family planning centre. In general, providers were skillful with the inserting of implant. Conclusion Although, the current use of contraceptives in the area is higher than it is nationwide, educational programmes should be put in place to increase the awareness level and also address safety concerns about contraceptives
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in Population and Reproductive Health, 2015
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