Background
Contraception is an important component of reproductive health due to its
contribution to maternal health. Contraception helps to prevent unplanned pregnancy
and unsafe abortion, and their related risks thus reducing the number of deaths related
to pregnancy. Apart from this family planning which includes the use of
contraceptives is said to contribute either directly or indirectly to realization of the
millennium development goals as such contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) was set as
one of the indicators for measuring the success of target 5B (achieving universal
access to reproductive health by 2015) of the Millennium Development Goal 5
(MDG5). However, the CPR in some parts of the world, especially Sub-Saharan
Africa where Ghana is found is still low. The main objective of this study was to
determine factors that influence the utilization of contraceptives, and also determine
the use of LTRC among women within the reproductive age group in the AshantiMampong
Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Methods
A cross sectional study was carried out between August and October, 2014 atAshantiMampong
Municipality. Pretested questionnaires were administered through
interview to 420 postpartum women who were more than six month post-delivery and
were accessing CWC services in the Ashanti-Mampong Municipality. These women
were randomly selected from 20 CWC which were also selected randomly from the
Ashanti-Mampong Municipality. Checklist was used to obtain information from the
family planning centres in the municipality.
xiii
Results
The current use of a contraceptive method in the Ashanti-Mampong municipality was
38.6%.However, only 0.6% and 9.3% of the contraceptive userswere usingIUD and
implant respectively. The only factor found statistically to be associated with the use
of a contraceptive method was the level of awareness about contraceptive methods
(p=0.001). Although not statistically significant, the commonest reasons why women
do not use contraceptives were fear of side effect and refusal by partner. Provision of
IUD services was limited to only one family planning centre. In general, providers
were skillful with the inserting of implant.
Conclusion
Although, the current use of contraceptives in the area is higher than it is nationwide,
educational programmes should be put in place to increase the awareness level and
also address safety concerns about contraceptives.