Abstract:

Background: Family planning (FP) has been identified by World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the essential reproductive health interventions needed to achieve safe motherhood initiative by reducing maternal and child mortality. Despite widely dissemination of family planning services in Tanzania, the uptake of these services is still low as it associated with different factors that hinder its utilization among women.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with utilization of family planning methods among women of reproductive age at Magu district hospital.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with a convenience sampling of 200 women of reproductive age, who attended RCH clinic at Magu district hospital. Data was collected by interviewing women and filling questionnaires.

Results: Findings show that the prevalence of use of family planning methods among women attended Magu RCH clinic is (84%), also use of family planning method significantly associated with fear of side-effects (p = 0.014, forbidden by husband/partner (p = 0.007), knowledge of contraception (p = 0.000), and responsibility for family (p = 0.020). The common preferred contraceptive methods was injectable (33%). Moreover the result showed that the main source of information was hospital/health centre which were (89.5%).

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of utilization of family planning methods among women at Magu district, this signifies that family planning services are accessible, affordable and available. Also fear of side effects significantly hinder the use of family planning services and for high use of contraception both partners are required and good knowledge of contraception is very important. Injectable was the commonest preferred contraceptive and hospital/health centre was the main source of information on family planning.

Keywords: Prevalence, family planning methods, contraception, use