Attitudes towards the use of modern contraceptives in family planning: A case study of Serengeti district, Mara region.

ABSTRACT 

This study examined Attitudes towards the use of modern contraceptives in family planning among the community of the selected four wards in Mugumu town, namly Machochwe, Natabigo and Kisangura of Serengeti district, Mara region. This study intended to examine attitude towards the use of modern contraceptives based on the following specific objectives: 1) to assess perception on the use of modern contraceptives, 2) to identify types of modern contraceptives that are commonly used, and 3) to assess community participation on family planning program. The focus was to identify types of modern contraceptives; examine perceptions on the use of modern contraceptives and assess community participation in family planning programs. Non probability sampling techniques through the use of purposive and snowball methods were employed to obtain sample respondents. Data were collected by the use of interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussion sessions, and documentary review. Data analysis was attained through qualitative approaches, mainly through the use of theme-content analysis which interpreted findings according to research questions this study intended to articulate. This study found that pills, injections, norplant insertion and condoms as the main modern contraceptives used in Serengeti district representing 35%, 45%, 9% and 10% respectively. According to the findings, use of the contraceptives was linked to various reasons such as age, dosage time, religion beliefs, availability and side effects results reveled avoidance on pills among some women is due to their dosage life span. Use of injections was the most favorable contraceptives among women( %) partly due to short-time dosage and ability of the client to secure privacy even in a situation where there was no consensus among couples over the use of contraceptives. The use of condoms, mainly among men was linked to the avoidance of sexually transmitted vi infections(STIs), and was mostly used by un-married couples. The study also found that Norplant insertion was preferred among women due to the ability of the client to secure secret in a situation where the use modern contraceptives was conflicting with religious, culture and might bring conflicts with the husband. Findings in the current study also revealed that men had negative perceptions on the use of contraceptives partly due to cultural, religious, and inadequate awareness. Thus induces informal sexual relationships among users. The study found that most of interviewed men were not participating in family planning programs partly due to lack of effective programs to involve men in such state of affairs. It was also revealed that most services related to the use of modern contraceptives are obtained in urban areas, thus discriminating most men and women found in rural areas. This study concluded that men had negative attitudes towards the use of modern contraceptives due to inadequate awareness, religious barriers and traditional beliefs which implicate modern contraceptives with various health implications and trust in family affairs such as having sexual relationship outside marriage. It was recommended that awareness programs should be undertaken in rural and urban areas. Similarly, further study should be undertaken to delineate health outcomes of using modern contraceptives so that community at large can be made aware on the proper use of contraceptives and eventually successes of government initiatives in family planning related matters.