Postpartum Family Planning Utilization and Associated Factors Among Women Who Gave Birth in the Last 12 Months Prior to the Study in Lode Hetosa District, South East Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Postpartum family planning helps women to achieve the recommended birth interval before next pregnancy. In Ethiopia contraception use in postpartum period is only 8% while unmet need is 81% resulted in short birth interval, abortion, unplanned birth and miscarriage. Objectives: To assess magnitude of postpartum family planning utilization and its associated factors among postpartum women who gave birth within one year prior to the study. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Lode Hetosa district from July 20, 2018 to August 20, 2018. A random sample of 1162 postpartum women who gave birth within 12 months prior to study was recruited for the study. Structured and pretested questionnaire were utilized to collect the data. After entered to Epi info version 7, a cleaned data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Multivariate logistic regressions were fit to determine association between postpartum family planning utilization and independent variables. Results: Magnitude of postpartum family planning utilization in the study area was 15%. The most frequently used family planning method within 6 weeks after delivery was implants (35%). The odds of using contraception were 2.9(95%CI: 1.41, 5.97) times higher among women whose partners completed secondary education when compared to those with no formal education. Odds of utilizing contraception were 8.27 (95%CI: 4.14, 16.52)times more likely among mothers who got FP counselling during ANC visit when compared with who didn’t get counselling during this time. Likewise, who didn’t get counselling at PNC services were 0.41(95%CI: 0.2, 0.86) times less likely used PPFP relative to who were counselled. Conclusions: Postpartum family planning utilization was low in the district. Partner’s educational status, knowledge of mother, family planning counselling during ANC and PNC and sexual resumption were factors significantly associated with postpartum family planning utilization.