Knowledge, Attitude and Factors Associated with the Use of Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods among Women of Reproductive Age in Gesuba Town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Population growth is a major concern in developing countries in view of its impact on broader socio-economic development. Ethiopia like most countries in sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid population growth with a rate of 3%. Thus, utilization of long acting and permanent methods positively influence socio-economic development of a nation by allowing families to space and limit their family size to their economic capacity.

This study was aimed to assess knowledge; attitude and factors associated with the use of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods (LAPMs) among reproductive age group women in Gesuba town, southern Ethiopia.

Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 20 to December 27- 2014, in Gesuba town, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 375 study subjects were selected by systematic random sampling technique from mothers of Reproductive age group (15-49). Data was collected by using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. SPSS Version 20 was used to enter, clean and analyze. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariate logistic regression model with 95% CI were used.

Result: A total of 361 women of reproductive age group were participated with a response rate of 96.3%. Utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive methods was 37 (10.2%). Women with good knowledge about these methods were 32.1% while 32.7% and 35.2% of them were moderately and poorly knowledgeable respectively. Generally, 198 (54.8%) of the respondents had negative attitude, whereas 163 (45.2%) of them had positive attitude towards these methods. women who have good knowledge on the methods were about four times more likely to utilize [AOR=4.1: 95% CI, 1.8-9.1].

Conclusion and Recommendation: Knowledge and utilization of LAPMs were low. Likewise, more than half of the participants had negative attitude. Having good knowledge in LAPMs was predictor of its utilization. Thus, strategies to increase women’s knowledge on LAPMs will have significant contribution to increase the utilization.

Keywords: LAPMs, knowledge, Attitude