FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING AMONG CLIENTS ATTENDING MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH SERVICES AT KYABUGIMBI HEALTH CENTRE IV BUSHENYI DISTRICT

ABSTRACT Introduction Family planning can help reduce maternal mortality by reducing the number of pregnancies, the number of abortions, and the proportion of births at high risk in Bushenyi District. It has been estimated that meeting women’s need for modern contraceptive use would prevent about one quarter to one third of all maternal deaths. Objectives This study was aimed at assessing the factors affecting utilization of family planning methods among clients attending MCH Clinic at Kyabugimbi health Centre IV. Method Where a cross-sectional study design was used. Results According to this study, most of the respondents, were aged 25-34 (48%), had no formal education (60%), married (45%) by marital status, peasants (65%) by occupation, while by religion, majority were protestants (41%). Majority (87%) had ever heard about family planning while the minority (13%) had never. The sources of information were health workers (36%), 30% radio and 20% from friends. 38% of the clients reported to be using at least one method of family planning while the majority (56%) was not. Majority of participants reported to be using injecta-plan (14%), pill-plan (9%), condoms (6%), IUDs (4%) and minority (2%) calendar and 6% reported to be using other methods not listed above. This study revealed that majority of the clients reported not to utilize family planning services because they feared side effects (83%), 75% could not afford to travel long distance to the health facility, 67% reported that their religions were against the use of family planning methods while 41% reported that they were not effective in preventing pregnancy. Conclusion In this study, the level of awareness of family planning methods was high (87%) where most common sources of information were health workers (36%), 30% radio and 20% from friends. However, the level of utilization of family planning methods was low 38%. Among the factors hindering utilization of FP method in Kyabugimbi HC IV were; 83% feared side effects, 75% reported long distance to the health facility, 67% religion was against the use of family planning methods while 41% reported that they were not effective in preventing pregnancy. Recommendations Holding family planning campaigns, educating these clients about the benefits of family planning as well as giving them detailed information in order to put an end to the misconceptions and false beliefs they have about family planning services. More research should be carried on bigger populations for instance referral hospitals to capture larger sample sizes and urban settings.