TITLE:
Facilitators to Immediate Post Partum Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device Uptake among Mothers Delivering in Meru Hospital
AUTHORS:
Consolata Kirigia, Lucy Gitonga, Moses Mahugu Muraya
KEYWORDS:
Facilitators, Post-Partum, Intra-Uterine, Contraceptives, Uptake
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.9 No.4,
April
8,
2019
ABSTRACT: Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children
and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is important to promote uptake of
family planning services because it is one of the four pillars of the Safe Motherhood
Initiative to reduce maternal death in developing countries. It is also
enshrined in health related Sustainable Development Goals. Post Partum Intra
Uterine Contraceptive Device (PPIUCD) is the oldest methods of family planning.
During the ancient times, foreign bodies like stones were introduced into the
woman’s uterus for prevention of pregnancy. Post partum method of contraception
is highly recommended because it is long acting, convenient, safe and highly
effective with minimal side effects compared to the hormonal methods. Despite
these advantages, the method is the lowest in use globally, regionally and
locally. According to the Meru Hospital records for the year 2017, the
immediate PPIUCD uptake was very low at 3.4%. The broad objective of this study
was to assess the factors that facilitate uptake of PPIUCD at Meru Hospital.
The study site was post natal ward maternity department of Meru Hospital for a
period of two months that is September and October in the year 2018. A
descriptive research design was used and the study population was the mothers who
were admitted in the ward during the study period. A sample size of 74
respondents was used as the representative to the target population of 289
mothers. Simple random sampling was used to get the sample for the
facilitators. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The
data collection instruments were pretested at Embu Level five Hospital and
split half reliability test technique used. Validity was ensured through review
of literature from similar studies and by consulting supervisors in the
department. Permission to conduct the study was sought from National Commission
for Science, Technology and Innovation through Chuka University Ethics and
Research Committee. Descriptive analysis was done to get percentages using
Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 23.0.
Qualitative data were analyzed by grouping data into themes according to the study objectives.
The analyzed data were presented in tables, charts and narratives. The findings of the study
revealed that; the main client related facilitators to PPIUCD uptake were older
age above 30 years, employment, tertiary level of education and knowledge on the
method as a result of the providers’ effort to share information. That is 70%
of older aged mothers, 60% of the employed and 40% with tertiary education had
the insertion. The main provider facilitator to PPIUCD uptake was timely
counseling and insertion services. 20% of those who had the insertion said that
timely counseling was done during antenatal period. The main method related
facilitator to PPIUCD uptake was past experience
and preference to alternative methods of contraception. 50% of those who
accepted the insertion had previous bad experience and side effects of other
alternative methods. Some 30% of users perceived that the method was effective
and convenient because once inserted no need for frequent visits to the clinic.
The study concluded that clients, providers and method factors facilitated
uptake of immediate PPIUCD. The study recommends putting in place strategies to
improve the uptake of the method by considering the client, provider and method
related facilitators.