Acceptance of Long Acting Contraceptive Methods and Associated Factors among Women in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Long acting reversible contraceptives are family planning methods that prevent unwanted pregnancy for at least three years and when removed return of fertility is prompt. It includes the intrauterine device and contraceptive implants. Despite the effectiveness and reversibility of fertility, the acceptance and utilization of long acting reversible contraceptive were very low in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Even though the optimal use of long-acting reversible contraception is a good strategy for reducing unintended pregnancy, acceptability to long acting reversible contraceptive is fundamental to effective and continuous use. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the acceptance of long acting reversible contraceptive methods and factors associated with it among women of reproductive age. Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted from February to march 2013. Among 348 family planning users and systematic sampling method was used to select the study participants. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate analysis was employed to determine predictors of acceptability of long acting contraceptives and variables which were found to be significant at P -values < 0.05 in bivariate analysis were taken to multivariate logistic regression to see the independent effects of the factors on the acceptability of long acting contraceptives. Result: The acceptability of long acting reversible contraceptive was 16.4%. The main reasons mentioned for not accepting long acting reversible contraceptive was developing side effects 128 (44.8%), and fear of infertility after use 117(40.9%). More than half 181 (52.9%) of the women had a non-supportive attitude towards long acting contraceptives. Mothers who had a supportive attitude towards long acting reversible contraceptive was the only independent predictors of acceptability of long acting contraceptive (AOR=2, 95% CI (1.084, 3.75). Conclusions: The acceptance of long acting reversible contraceptives was very low. Supportive attitude towards long acting contraceptives was the only factors that affect acceptance of long acting contraceptive.

Acceptance of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive Methods and Associated Factors Among Reproductive Age Women in &lt;i&gt;Adama Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia&lt;/i&gt;

“…This could be due to that both governments employed and daily laborer women are too busy and have short time to raise up their children that may be the main reason for being more likely to use LARCs. In contrary the result of this study shows different result with the study conducted Mekele, Jimma and Dandi district in which occupational status was not significantly associated to acceptance of LARCs [21], [22], [25]. This difference may be due to difference in geographic location and access to information and education about LARCs.…”

“…The similarity may be due to the adolescent and young adults are educated and can access easily information about the benefits of LARCs and adolescent and young adults may not want to be pregnant. But, the study conducted in Mekelle Town, Jimma town, DebreTabor town and Dandi District, the age of the respondent does not show statistically significant association with the acceptance of LARCs [21], [22], [23]. Again the result of this study shows opposite result to community based cross-sectional study conducted in southern part of Ethiopia in Areka Town in which women of age 26-36 years were 3.99 times more likely to use LARCs compared to age 15-25 years [24].…”

“…In this study, the common type of LARCs used is implant (22.0%) but the common type of LARCs used in USA and most European countries is an IUD [(USA IUD 9.5%, Implant 0.7%), (Germany IUD 10.3%, implant 0.7%), (Romania IUD 9.8% implant 0.2%), (France IUD 25.2%, Implant 1.8%), (Bulgaria IUD 17.6%, Implant 0.4%) and (In Russia IUD 32.3%, implant 0.0%)] [20]. Again the result of this study shows lower acceptance of LARCs compared to study conducted in Lubaga (Uganda) (31.7%) but higher acceptance of LARCs compared to National level; Mini EDHS 2014 which is 4.2% (3.4% implant and 0.8% IUD), study conduct in Mekelle (16.4%; Implant 13.2% and IUD 3.2%), Jimma (16%; 12.2% implant and IUD 3.8%), and Debre Tabor (9.2%; of which 8.2% is implant and 1.0% is IUD) [18], [21], [22], [23]. In general, it was observed that acceptance of LARCs is higher in the study area but still lower compared to national target set.…”

“…This is lower compared to USA (10.2%) [19], [20]. Whereas study conducted in Mekkelle Town, Ethiopia, shows 16.4% acceptance of LARCs which is very low utilization as compared to 31.7% in Uganda [19], [21]. Again in study conducted in Jimma Town shows that LARCs method utilization was 16%.…”

“…Clients were interviewed at exit of family planning service use. Questionnaires were adopted from similar studies conducted in Ethiopia and modified based on the objectives of the study [21]. Mixed type of questions (structured and semi-structured) were used to collect the data.…”