ASSESSING USE AND BARRIERS OF CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG YOUNG WOMEN (18-28 YEARS) ATTENDING HEALTH FACILITIES IN GARU TEMPANE DISTICT OF GHANA

Abstract

Improving young mother's reproductive health and fertility in Ghana requires access to adequate, timely and appropriate knowledge on usage levels and the management of barriers and side effects of contraception. The aim of the study was to assess use and barriers regarding Family planning among young mothers (18-28 years) attending health facilities in the Garu-Tempane District of Northem Ghana. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The study was conducted among 720 young mothers attending health facilities. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS to generate frequencies and associations. Qualitative information were coded into key themes and used to explore the factors influencing the use, barriers and knowledge of side effects of family planning. Awareness of family planning among young mothers was 89.4%. Ever use of family planning was 54.8% whiles the current contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) stands at 33.9% with injectables being the most preferred method of use. Bivariate analysis of current use showed significant statistical relationships with marital status and family unions that mothers belong to Lower levels of current use given the presence of a high awareness of family planning in the study and also higher levels of ever use may indicate the existence of barriers. Additionally, a high unmet need for Contraception among pregnant mothers in this population study further reveals the existence of numerous factors militating against the use of family planning in this population. Therefore, efforts at improving access to family planning on demand, changing attitudes of providers towards clients and proper education on family planning to reduce misconceptions and fear among others, would go a long way to improve family planning use among these young mothers.