Factors Influencing Choice and Use of Contraceptive Methods among Women in Kibera Slum, Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2014-03-06
Authors
Maina, Florence Wangechi
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Abstract
The choice and use of contraceptive methods has remained a challenge in sub-
Saharan Africa. Women from Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya have been faced
with the problem of unplanned pregnancies due to low use of contraceptive
methods. Contraceptives would reduce maternal and infant mortality resulting
from unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to
establish factors that influence choice of contraceptives among women in
Kibera slum. A cross-sectional study was carried out and a total of 384 women
attending MCHlFP clinics at different health facilities in Kibera participated in
the study. Data was collected using pre-tested, structured, open-ended
questionnaires for respondents; unstructured questionnaire was used for service
providers as well as for focused group discussions. Data was analyzed using
the Scientific Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version seventeen.
Chi-Square test for goodness-of-fit was used to test relationship between
variables. Results indicated that the minimum age was 17 years; the maximum
was 45 years while the mean age was 24.2 years. Most of the respondents
(84.1%) were married and were aged between 20 -24 years. Sociodemographic
and economic variables had a statistical relationship with choice
and use of (p < .05). Knowledge on Contraceptive methods' side effects and
community perception did not have a statistical relation with choice and use of
contraceptives. Health system factors influencing choice and use investigated
were health provider's variables which included the provision of contraceptive
methods, offering contraceptive methods' health education and counselling.
All the variables apart from providing contraceptive methods counselling had a
statistical relationship with choice and use (p < .05). Choice and use of
contraceptive methods was measured using four variables which included:
whether the respondent has ever used contraceptive; currently using
contraceptive and used a contraceptive in last intercourse and whether the
respondent had a preferred contraceptive method. The study found that less
than half (46%) of the respondents used a contraceptive method. This outcome
was influenced by respondents' age, marital status, parity, sex of the children,
home area, village residence, education, religion, main source income, income
per month, knowledge on type of contraceptive methods, sources and side
effects of contraceptive methods, discussing contraceptive methods with
spouse, teen age son! daughter, partner involvement in contraceptive method
choice and main decision maker, also provision of contraceptive method,
offering contraceptive methods' health education and counselling. This study
recommends on-going contraceptive health education and counselling services
.for young women and men, including partners. The results of this study has
generated information that will help explain the emerging decline in the use of
contraceptives in different social settings in Kenya and particularly generated
data that may help revise approaches used to disseminate information on
choice of contraceptives methods to different social settings. These results may
be used by policy makers to improve policy frameworks and to determine
issues that need to be stressed in the design of future family planning
campaigns.
Description
Department of Community Health, 2013