DETERMINANTS OF CONTRACEPTIVE UTILIZATION AMONG WOMEN WITH DIABETES & HYPERTENSION, A FACILITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many chronic medical conditions have been affecting women in reproductive age group. Women with medical conditions like hypertension, heart disease& diabetes are at higher risk of pregnancy related morbidity & mortality than women without medical conditions. Due to the high risk associated with pregnancy, it is extremely important for women with chronic medical conditions to have a well-planned pregnancy. As to the knowledge of the investigator, there were no specific studies conducted on determinants of uptake of modern contraception among women with diabetes & hypertension in Ethiopia. Therefore, it is invariably important to assess contraceptive use & factors affecting it among women with diabetes & hypertension.
OBJECTIVES: to assess magnitude of modern contraceptive use & factors affecting it among women with diabetes & hypertension.
METHODOLOGY: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted from March 1/2021-May 30/2021. An exit interview of sampled women enrolled at the medical Out Patient Department (OPD) at diabetic & hypertensive clinics of SPHMMC was done using structured and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable methods were used to analyze the level of contraceptive use & associated factors.
RESULTS: More than two-third (71.4%) of women had ever used contraceptive methods. Among the contraceptive methods, injectables (28.9%) and implants (28.3%) were the most commonly used methods. Almost all (98.4%) used modern contraceptive methods. One-third of the study participants used long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). One-third of women were using contraceptive methods at the time of interview. The most common reasons for use and non-use were spacing and desire of having a baby, respectively. After fitting multivariable logistic regression composed of seven predictors, five variables (age, education, relationship, giving a birth, and partner support) were identified as significant predictors of contraceptive use.
CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION: The overall contraceptive utilization of women with diabetes & hypertension who are having follow-up at medical OPDs is low. Hence, strengthening counselling about family planning & partner involvement would help increase the contraceptive uptake of women with chronic medical illnesses.