Utilization of Postpartum Family Planning Services between Six and Twelve Months of Delivery at Ntchisi District Hospital, Malawi

HTML  XML Download Download as PDF (Size: 972KB)  PP. 1724-1737  
DOI: 10.4236/health.2014.614205    5,515 Downloads   9,119 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

This study examined factors that determine utilization of postpartum family planning services at Ntchisi District Hospital in Malawi. The study design was descriptive and utilized quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. A random sample of 383 postpartum women was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 16.0. Chi-square tests were used to establish relationships between utilization of Post Partum Family Planning services and demographic variables. Knowledge about family planning services was almost universal at 94.3% among the women. About 75% of the women were using the contraceptives within the first year after delivery however they started taking the contraceptives after they had already resumed sex. There was a significant association (P < 0.05) between utilization of post partum family planning services and the following: clarity of family planning information given, level of education, period for resuming sex, husband’s approval of family planning method, counselling on fertility intention, duration of lactation amenorrhoea, maternal age and parity. There is therefore a need to promote these factors to increase uptake of postpartum services.

Share and Cite:

Bwazi, C. , Maluwa, A. , Chimwaza, A. and Pindani, M. (2014) Utilization of Postpartum Family Planning Services between Six and Twelve Months of Delivery at Ntchisi District Hospital, Malawi. Health, 6, 1724-1737. doi: 10.4236/health.2014.614205.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.