Effect of Mass Media Exposure on Family Planning Practices in Uganda
Abstract
This research aimed at analyzing the effects of mass media on family planning practices in
Uganda. As people embrace modern family planning methods, they start believing in
information circulated through mass media. Mass media has been observed as a significant
indicator on accelerating family planning practices through behavior change
communication (BCC).
Quantitative research methods were used on UDHS data for 57906 respondents, statistical
tests, bivariate analysis and specifically a logistic regression model were used to assess the
relationship between variables (income status, age, education level, sex, place of residence,
occupation, ethnicity and mass media exposure) and family planning practices.
Additionally, contingency tables were used to present the results from the research. The
findings show that mass media impacts positively on family planning practice and using
radio proved to be most effective means of informing people about family planning with
64.7%. Majority (62.7%) of the women were not practicing family planning, 63.08% had
primary level of education, 82.78% were rural women, majority were married(81.09%),
the biggest percentage of 49.97% of the women were self-employed and nearly 100% half
mark of the respondents were poor (46.22%), As regards using contraceptives, most
respondents were using Injections (16.75%), followed by implants (6.61%).
Analysis shows that mass media in addition to other five socio-economic variables were
significant thus can be used to explain variations in the family planning practices. These
are income status, marital status, education level, religion and age. The multivariate
regression results indicate that place of residence and occupation (women who never
responded) are not statistically significant in the model.
We recommend continued use of mass media since it proved an important factor in practice
of family planning and that facilities providing family planning services are made more
user friendly to accommodate all age groups.