KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE UTILIZATION AMONG WOMEN IN FERTILITY AGE (WIFA) IN THE SAVELUGU MUNICIPALITY OF THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Contraceptive services are essential elements of reproductive health care and have saved lives and protected the health of millions of women and children. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of modern contraception among women of reproductive age in the Savelugu municipality. A mixed design was employed in the present study where quantitative research methods were employed involving 280 women. For the qualitative part, a total of two (2) focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted involving 20 women. Data were collected in five health facilities during Prenatal, Post Natal Clinic (PNC), and Child Welfare Clinic (CWC) sessions using questionnaires and interview guides in focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data and binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors that associated with modern contraception practices using SPSS version 24. A p-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. About 86% of the participants had access to modern contraception and 83.0% were classified as having good knowledge of modern contraception. Majority of respondents showed favourable attitude (71.8%) toward modern contraception and about 49.6% of participants were practicing modern contraception. Women whose spouses had education up to tertiary were about two times more like to utilize modern contraception services (Odds ratio (OR): 2.39; Confidence Interval (CI): 0.51- 11.33; p-value: 0.272). Also, women who had unfavourable attitudes toward modern contraception were 88% times less likely to utilize modern contraception services (OR:0.12; CI: 0.51-11.33; p- value:<0.001). Women who were not seeking help from health facilities about modern contraception were 82% times less likely to uptake modern contraception compared to those who sought help (OR:0.18; CI: 0.10-0.31; p-value:<0.001). During the Focus Group Discussion, husbands’ opposition to modern contraception was a major deterring factor stated by many women. Finally, women whose husbands were in favour of modern contraception uptake were about 8 times more likely to uptake modern contraception compared to those whose husbands object to its uptake (O8.49; CI: 4.66-15.48; p-value:<0.001). The high knowledge of modern contraception among women did not match their practice in the study area. Thus, policymakers should include husbands in designing modern contraception programs.