Factors influencing successful family planning among women aged 15-49 years seeking health services in Ankole Region, Uganda

Abstract

The study aimed at finding the factors the factors influencing successful family planning among women aged 15-49 years seeking services in Uganda. In particular to find out the biodemographic factors (age, religion, marital status and education), current use of plan planning methods, factors influencing successful family planning and modern methods of family planning among women aged 15-49 years seeking services in Uganda. The study used secondary data from the basing on the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2016 (DHS). The study focused on women and men aged 15-49 years that took part in the UDHS Indicator Survey as participants in the selected households. These took part in providing answers family planning especially on a conscious effort by a couple to limit or space the number of children they have through the use of modern family planning methods. The study found out that about 6 respondents in 10 were under age 30, reflecting the young age structure of the population. The majority of respondents are Catholic (40% of women and men) or Anglican (31% of women and 33% of men), while 13% of women and 14% of men are Muslim. One in four women (26%) and two in five men (41%) have never married. Women are more likely to be married or living together with a partner (i.e., in union) than men (61% and 54%, respectively). Women are also more likely than men to report being divorced or separated (11% and 5%, respectively). Three 3% of women reported being widowed, as compared with less than 1% of men. The study recommends that Integration of family planning services in sexual and reproductive health, most especially in health centres and immediately after delivery before mothers are discharged is critical in order to improve family planning uptake. The UDHS should provide a policy framework on provision of postpartum family planning services to guide health workers in quality service provision. To ensure increased family planning uptake strategies should be put in place that promote improved awareness about the available family planning services, their possible side effects and benefits among the general population, but especially for women in the reproductive age group in rural areas.