Analysis of the factors affecting the use of family planning among the youth aged (15-34) in Uganda: a case of women in Karamoja Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the analysis of the factors affecting the use of family planning among the youth aged (15-34) in Uganda: A case of women in Karamoja region. The study objective was the main objective. The study analyzed family planning use in the Karamoja region Uganda using data from Uganda Demographic and Health surveys (UDHS) (UBOS, 2011) with a target population of 18506 women interviewed in the survey. The dependent variable of this study was family planning use and the independent variables were highest education level, partners’ education, wealth index, marital status, age, religion, and pregnancy wantedness, occupation, partner occupation on contraceptive use. Chi-square tests at bi-variate level were done to determine the relationship between demographic, socio-economic factors and Family planning. Findings of the study indicated that the demographic factors such as age group of the respondents, marital status and pregnancy wantedness were associated with the family planning use since their (Pvalue<0.05) (0.000, 0.000 and 0.020) respectively. Birth order did not show any kind of relationship with the family Planning use (Pvalue=0.637). Furthermore, the socio-economic variables such respondents’ Education level , partners’ Education level, respondents’ occupation, partners’ occupation, Wealth index and religious affiliation were highly associated with the family planning use since their (P-Values<0.05) , 0.000 respectively. Lastly family planning knowledge and counseling had no relationship with uptake of family planning P-Values are 0.071 and 0.212 respectively. The study recommends that government should revise the population policy to actively promote family Planning, Integrated health infrastructure should be developed whereby infant and child care, and nutritional care are combined with family planning services, Women education needs to be emphasized in order to promote innovative reproductive behavior, awareness campaigns on importance of having fewer children should be promoted to target women residing in rural areas and those without or limited education. All independent variables (Respondents Age group, marital status Pregnancy Wantedness, Education distribution, Occupation, Wealth index, Partners' Occupation, Religion, Partners Education) explains46.6% influence in family planning use.