FACTORS AFFECTING LONG-TERM AND PERMANENT CONTRACEPTIVE UPTAKE AMONG IMMEDIATE POST-PARTUM MOTHERS AT SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Postpartum family planning (PPFP) focuses on the prevention of unintended and closely spaced pregnancies through the first 12 months following childbirth.
OBJECTIVE This study assesses the barriers to uptake of long-term and permanent family planning methods among immediate post-partum mothers at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
METHODOLOGY An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to June 30, 2017. The six months of study were used as strata and systematic sampling used to select participants in each month. Post-partum mothers were interviewed using pretested structured questionnaires. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS version 17. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to identify determinants of post-partum family planning uptake. A OR with 95% CIs were calculated, and p values set at 005 was used to determine statistical significance of associations.
RESULTS Four hundred and twenty-two post-partum women were interviewed. Two hundred sixty-eight (63%) women received counselling on family planning and 241 (66.8 %) got information about contraception. One hundred and nifty two (45%) of the women accepted long-term and permanent contraception on their immediate postpartum period before discharge. Contraceptive counselling (OR=2.13, 95% CI 1.004-3.331), getting information from the health facility (OR=15.15, 95% CI 1.848-19.242), and partner support (OR=1.367, 95% CI 1.175-2.771) were significantly associated with long-term and permanent contraception uptake.
CONCLUSION Postpartum counselling on family planning and provision of contraception information improves immediate postpartum FP acceptance, and, hence postpartum programs need to strengthen such services.
KEY WORDS: Contraception, Immediate postpartum, Long-term family planning.
(Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health 2018; 10; 2: 31-41)