SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AND THE USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN IN LOTOME SUB COUNTY, NAPAK DISTRICT, UGANDA

ABSTRACT

The study sought to find out the socio-cultural factors and the use of contraceptives among

women in Lotome sub county, Napak district, Uganda, it was guided by the following

objectives, to determine the effect of education on the usage of contraceptives among

Karamojong women of reproductive age, to examine the effect of religion on the usage of

contraceptives among Karamojong women of reproductive age and to examine the effect of

cultural norms on the usage of contraceptives among Karamojong women of reproductive age.

This was cross-sectional, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Specifically a case

study design was applied. Quantitative method was also used because of the small scale nature of

the study. The study used a study populafibn of 120 respondents who were chosen from women

of reproductive age and directly mandated to manage use of contraceptives among women. The

study targeted women of reproductive age (15-45 years), the sample size of the study was

determined according Slovene’s formula to get a sample size of 92 respondents the study

concluded that Education has a significant effect on usage of contraceptives among Karamojong

women of reproductive age since the p-value 0.04 was less than the significance level (0.05) and

the correlation coefficient was notably high (0.76) rendering the effect between education and

usage of contraceptives among Kararnojong women of reproductive age to be a strong one.

Religion has significant effect on usage of contraceptives among Karamojong women of

reproductive age since the p-value (0.036) is less than the level of significance. The correlation

coefficient is strong (0.864) which showed that religion has strong effect on usage of

contraceptives among Kararnojong women of reproductive age. In order to determine the.

Culture has no significant effect on usage of contraceptives among Karamojong women of

reproductive age since the p- value (0.357) is greater than the level of significance. The

correlation coefficient 0.32 showed a we&k effect of culture on usage of contraceptives among

Karamojong women of reproductive age. The study made the following recommendation based

on the findings and conclusions of the study, the following recommendations were made, in line

with the specific objectives of the study. More education kills is needed on how to deliver the

message about usage of contraceptives, despite the permissibility of all contraceptive methods,

barriers to effective, accurate use exist, As confirmed by various experts and literature sources, a

woman’s ability and willingness to utilize contraception is affected by whether she identifies

with orthodox, traditional, or liberal interpretations of her religion. Contraceptive behaviour is

often influenced by additional factors such as suitability of the specific method to fertility

control, peer influences, and cultural effects. The contraceptive attitudes and behaviours for the

different religions reviewed here do not necessarily reflect the behaviours of Ugandan women.

When faced with the challenges of acclimating to a new society and way of life, women may

anchor more strongly to traditional religious and cultural expectations with respect to family,

sexuality, and fertility. Evidence from the broader world view described here may provide

insight into the cultural values and behaviours that can influence recent immigrants.