TITLE:
Awareness and Factors Associated with Postpartum Modern Contraceptives Use among Women of Reproductive Age in Bukombe District, Geita Region
AUTHORS:
Immanuel Shayo, Sia E. Msuya, Caroline Amour, Michael J. Mahande
KEYWORDS:
Awareness, Postpartum, Modern Contraceptives Use, Tanzania
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Sexual Medicine,
Vol.10 No.3,
May
11,
2020
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Pregnancies that occur during the first year postpartum are more likely
to be unplanned. This leads to an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
However, modern contraceptive use during this period helps to reduce unplanned pregnancies and its associated adverse outcomes. There is scant data on
postpartum contraceptives in pastoral communities in Tanzania. This study aimed to assess awareness and
factors associated with postpartum modern contraceptives use among women of
reproductive age in Bukombe District, Geita Region.Method: A community based cross-sectional
study was conducted in a predominant pastoral community of Bukombe district in
Geita region in north-western Tanzania from May-June 2018. A total of 511 postpartum women who were in their first year after child birth were
studied. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.
Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent
predictors of postpartum modern contraceptive use.Results: Most (97.3%) of the participants were aware
about modern contraceptives. The prevalence of postpartum modern contraceptive
use was 11.9%. The most frequent used contraceptive method was Implant 6.5%.
Majority (75%) of women started to use the contraceptive at the first three months after
delivery. Living in urban (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.20 - 3.79), business women’s (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.31 - 2.28), having last born aged 3 - 4 months (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.11 - 9.85) and menses resumption (AOR = 9.23, 95% CI: 3.60 - 23.72) were associated with postpartum modern contraceptive use. Fear of
side effects, poor knowledge about contraceptives, husband restrictions, distance to
health facility and availability of contraceptivewere the barriers for use of contraceptive use.Conclusion: We found low uptake of postpartum modern contraceptive use
in this population. Numerous factors were associated with modern contraceptive
use. Therefore, health communication targeting this group is warranted to improve modern contraceptive uptake.