FACTORS AFFECTING UTILIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AMONG MOTHERS DELIVERING AT FORT PORTAL REGIONAL REFFERAL HOSPITAL, UGANDA

ABSTRACT Background: Family planning services have been implemented in Uganda for nearly 60 years. Initially the services were run by urban based Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and restricted to married women, either accompanied by the spouse or provided with a written document to confirm spousal acceptance. In Uganda, especially in rural districts like Kabarole the risk of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions remains high due to relatively low contraceptive use. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used. The study was conducted at fort portal regional referral hospital. Sample size was determined using a statistical formula adapted from Fishers. 100 participants were interviewed. Data was collected using open ended questionnaires. Data was electronically analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.1 and then be summarized and displayed. Results: Out of the 100 respondents interviewed, 96 had heard about FP methods, of whom, 29% indicated that they had ever used FP, and 71% had never used FP. This means that though most of the respondents have heard about FP method, the level of usage was low. Also it was found that decision to use FP is largely influenced by closed relatives. Factors associated with low utilization included fear of infertility, and side effects, wanting children, religion and bleeding. The level of knowledge of contraceptive among the women in the district cuts across all ages, marital status and occupational backgrounds. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the respondents had heard about FP services whilst 4% indicated that they had never heard about the services. However, the knowledge does not commensurate with the use of contraceptives. Recommendations: There’s need for intensification of public education at the community level with major emphasis on the use of FP. Effort must be made to explain to the people the benefits as well as possible side effects of the method one may wish to use. This will enable the people to make an informed decision in relations to the use of FP. This is necessary because the present situation shows that most people have heard of FP methods but they are not using them.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION................................................................................................................... I APPROVAL ..........................................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................IV TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................V LIST OF ACRONYMS......................................................................................................IX OPERATIONAL DEFINITION....................................................................................... X LIST OF TABLES ..............................................................................................................XI LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................... XII ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................XIII CHAPTER ONE................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................ 1 1.5 PROBLEM STATEMENT ......................................................................................... 4 1.3 STUDY OBJECTIVE................................................................................................... 5 1.3.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE......................................................................................... 5 1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES........................................................................................ 5 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ......................................................................................... 5 vi 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY........................................................................... 5 1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY. ....................................................................... 6 1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................ 6 1.7.1 TIME SCOPE:............................................................................................................ 6 1.7.2 GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE: ......................................................................................... 6 1.7.3 CONTENT SCOPE:.................................................................................................. 6 1.7 CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK............................................................................. 7 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 8 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 8 2.1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 8 2.2 LEVEL OF UTILIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE. ......................................................................... 8 2.3 KNOWLEDGE OF WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ABOUT FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES................................................................................10 2.4 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE UTILIZATION OF FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES...........................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER THREE...........................................................................................................15 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................15 3.1 INTRODUCTION:......................................................................................................15 3.2 STUDY DESIGN. ........................................................................................................15 3.3 STUDY SITE................................................................................................................15