Factors associated with utilization of postpartum family planning services between 6 and 12 months of delivery at Ntchisi District Hospital
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Date
2012-08-01
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Abstract
This study examined factors that determine the utilization of family planning services at Ntchisi District Hospital in the central region of Malawi. The study design was quantitative descriptive. The study sample comprised 193 postpartum mothers who stayed between 6 and 12 months after delivery. The women were recruited using the convenience sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data and the analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16.0. Cross tabulations were performed to establish the relationships and associations between the utilization of postpartum family planning services and variables such as demographic characteristics, knowledge, culture, subjective norms and the previous experiences faced by the women with use of different contraceptive methods. Chi-square tests were used at 5% level of significance. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) guided the study. Findings showed that knowledge about PPFP services was almost universal at 94.3% (n = 182). About 75% of the respondents were using the contraceptives in the first year of delivery. Only 59.8% (n = 115) women started using the contraceptives when their children were six (6) months old yet 82.3% (n = 159) respondents were sexually active during the same period. At the end of the first year, 90.2% (n = 174) were sexually active. There were statistically significant associations between PPFP utilization and duration of lactation amenorrhea, past behaviour and habits related to contraception, time of resuming sexual activity, level of education, marital status, age and parity of respondents, husband’s approval and postpartum counselling the mothers received. Results demonstrated that the women do not effectively utilize postpartum family planning services at Ntchisi District Hospital. Although about 75% were using contraception in the first year of childbirth, they started late. Some of the associated factors were marital status, respondents’ level of education, desire for more children as marriage security and inadequate counseling of mothers during ante and postnatal care. Lack of husbands’ approval for the services, past behaviour and habits related to contraception as well as the time of resumption of sexual activity after delivery, were the major setbacks for the use of the PPFP services.