Uptake of Modern Family Planning Methods among Women Receiving Spontaneous Post Abortion Care at Kuajok Hospital, South Sudan
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Date
2023
Authors
Majok, Samuel Ajiek
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
!mprm{mg women's health and reducing complications related to unwanted pregnancics
is crucial, and one effective strategy is promoting modern family planning in the context
of spontaneous post-abortion care. In 2019, global estimates indicated that there were
295,000 maternal deaths worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia
n_cccunting for approximately 86% of these deaths, and Eastern Africa alone accounting
10lr :fpproximalely 542 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. Each year, more than 44
million women experience complications from spontancous or induced abortions, with
around 20 million of these cases being unsafe abortions. South Sudan has the lowest
rate of modern family planning uptake at 2.6%, likely due to the volatile humanitarian
situation and weak healthcare system in the country, which leaves women and children
particularly vulnerable in conflict areas. The main objective of this study was to assess
the rate of spontancous post-abortion care (SPAC) and the uptake of modern family
planning methods among women at Kuajok Hospital in South Sudan. Specific
objectives included determining the uptake of modern family planning methods among
women who experienced spontaneous post-abortion, assessing women's knowledge of
modem family planning methods, examining women's attitudes towards family
planning, and investigating the factors influencing the uptake of family planning among
women at Kuajok Hospital. The study followed a cross-sectional descriptive design and
involved spontaneous post-abortion women at Kuajok Hospital. The sample size
consisted of 276 women, determined using Fisher's formula for sample size calculation.
Data was collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires that included both
closed and open-ended questions. Simple random sampling was used to select the
spontaneous post-abortion women, while purposive sampling was used to recruit
healthcare providers as key informants. Data was analyzed using SPSS software
(version 23), including Fisher's exact tests to establish relationships between dependent
and independent variables. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study found
that women in urban and rural areas had different preferences for modern family
planning methods. Among the spontaneous post-abortion women, 38.4% preferred
modern family planning methods and had sought care at the hospital within the past
year. Pills were the most utilized method, chosen by 17.9% of women to manage their
family sizes and conception periods, followed by injectable at 8.6%. Male condoms
were equally popular, preferred by 11.9% of the population. Female condoms, cervical
diaphragms, spermicides, and loop methods were not popular choices among the
participants, and none of the patients had used them. The study also revealed that the
uptake of modern family planning among women of reproductive age was low. Factors
such as age, education level, marital status, and occupation influenced the uptake of
modern family planning methods. The study recommends that policymakers and
healthcare providers increase awareness about modern family planning methods and
implement health education programs to change traditional attitudes towards these
methods. Encouraging spousal discussions can empower women to make informed
decisions about family planning. The relationship between patients' level of education
and their knowledge of family planning methods was found to be statistically
significant (X2 = 108.002, p = 091, df=4).
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health in Reproductive Health in School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, June, 2023
Keywords
Uptake, Modern Family Planning Methods, Women Receiving Spontaneous Post Abortion Care, Kuajok Hospital, South Sudan