Determinants influencing contraceptive use among women in Uganda

Abstract

This study is aimed at finding out the determinants of contraceptive use among women in Uganda. Specifically, the study is aimed at establishing the association between women's age and contraceptive use, study the influence of education on contraceptive use and examine the influence of wealth index on the use of contraceptives. The study used a quantitative approach with a correlation descriptive design. Analysis was based on secondary data from the UDHS 2011 data set and a sample of 8674 women aged 15-49 years in Uganda. Data analysis was done at two levels that is at Univariate level where the frequency distribution tables and percentages were used , and Bivariate level where cross tabulation were used to generate the chi- square test that was used to explain the relationship between independent variables that included education, wealth index, age of the women and the type of place of residence and the dependent variable which is contraceptive use. Results of the study showed that women with higher levels of education attained (56.8%) were using contraceptives more compared to those with no education (32.6%). Women in urban areas had the highest percentage (60%) of contraception users than those in rural areas (43%). Respondents grom rich households reported to be using contraceptives (57%) more compared to the other women from middle (45%) and poor households (33%). And those girls aged 25-34 years (62%) reported using contraceptives more than others and the least proportion (30%) of concetraceptive users was aged 15-24 years. The researcher recommend that the government should promote the use of contraceptives through sanitizing the public about the importance and side effects of concetraception. The government should also stretch out its family planning services to the rural areas of the country and this would help to increase on the percentages of contraceptives.