Abstract:

Background: Contraception (Birth control) is the use of a device or procedure to prevent conception as a result of sexual activity. Tanzania has a total fertility rate of 5.2 (2013). A legislation that supported family planning was adopted in 1976. Even though the birth rate has declined, the fertility is falling less than expected. It is 29% of the women the use contraceptives (2010). Women empowerment in all aspects like education level and decision making would increase a prevalence of women to use modern contraceptives for family. The goal of this study is to determine the influence of women empowerment towards the use of modern contraceptives.

Methodology: The study were of cross-sectional study using 227 randomly selected women at the reproductive age (15-44) at Ilemela Municipal, Mwanza city. Women selected from the hospitals, dispensaries, health centers as well as in the community house to house. The study used pretested close ended questionnaires designed for data collection. The data was entered in to a Microsoft excel and therefore exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Results from the study will help to reveal the impact of women empowerment on the modern contraceptives uses especially in rural areas among the women of reproductive age, thus helps in initiating measures to the policy makers and the government to improve family planning services and initiatives towards women empowerment.

Results: The study that 58.7% of respondents they use modern contraceptives compared to 42.2% of respondents who don’t use this is due to lack of awareness, un involvement in decision making and other familial aspects that hinder their influence towards the use of contraceptives.

Discussion: The study found that the participants with high education, employed and those who are involved in decision making as well as some of married and unmarried women have higher rate of using contraceptives when compared with other women.

Conclusion: With all important of contraceptives use in family, community and national level there is still low level of awareness among members in the society to collect that clear knowledge must be given to the community concerning the importance and side effects for a woman to choose a good method of contraception. This will help to reduce negative perception against contraceptive method.