IUD contraceptive use among women of reproductive age: a qualitative study at the family planning clinic of Nakaseke general hospital

Abstract

Back ground: Uganda has a high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 343 per 100000 live births. This could be due to unwanted pregnancies thus leading to major complications such as abortions, hemorrhage. However, to reverse this high maternal death, long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) which includes Intra Uterine Devices (IUD) had been proposed in the developing countries. Despite availing the necessary contraceptive, Uganda still has a very low uptake of (IUD) among women of reproductive age at 0.6 percent and their discontinuation rate in the first three months of use is also high. Objective: The general objective of this study was to explore the reasons why women don’t want to take up contraceptive IUD through assessing the barriers that may influence their use and experiences they face. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative study was employed using in depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to collect data of experiences, barriers and reasons attached, from women of reproductive ages (WRA) in the family planning clinic of Nakaseke General Hospital. A purposive sample of 8 women were interviewed. A thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data.

Results: Mothers using IUD reported positive experiences including remaining with sexual feelings, satisfaction with the method, long term method, preventing against un wanted pregnancy and normal menstrual periods. However, some reported negative experiences which included; pain after insertion, bleeding after insertion, UTI and continuous virginal examinations. The study also revealed different motivations using IUD which included, information from health workers, friends and media. For mothers who were using other methods of family planning reported that barriers which prevent them from using IUD included; fear due to what IUD users have experienced, myths and misconceptions and financial constraints. Conclusion: The experiences were mixed, both positive and negative, but generally women were satisfied with the IUD use. The motivators were their drivers to the method and barriers were reported to influence the IUD use. There is need for mothers who have used IUD and are satisfied with the method to talk to other mothers so that we can increase IUD use as a method of Family planning.