BackgroundThe postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (PPIUCD) is the only family planning method for couples requesting highly effective, reliable, inexpensive, non-hormonal, immediately reversible, and long-acting contraceptive that can be initiated during the immediate postpartum period and it has no a negative effect on lactation. Despite these benefit, the acceptance and utilization of immediate PPIUCD were very low and the reasons for rejecting immediate PPIUCD usage have not been characterized in Southeast Ethiopia. Therefore, this study determined the level of acceptability and factors associated with immediate PPIUCD use among women who gave birth at Bale zone health facilities, Southeast Ethiopia.MethodsA facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2017 in Bale zone health facilities. Four hundred twenty-nine women were successfully interviewed using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Health facilities were selected by lottery method. Study participants were selected systematically. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 21 for analysis. Logistic regression analyses were done. A significant association was declared at a p-value less than 0.05.ResultsThe acceptance of immediate PPIUCD usage was 12.4%. Non-acceptors reported their reasons for rejecting PPIUCD use; concern and fears of complications (24.8%), religious beliefs (19.8%), and husband refusal (17.7%). Respondents who had completed secondary education were more likely to accept PPIUCD usage than those who had no formal education (AOR = 3, CI = 11.81, 53.91). In addition, the odds of accepting PPIUCD insertion was higher among women who attended 3 antenatal care visits than those who did not attend antenatal care visits for the current birth (AOR = 1.81, CI = 0.34, 0.85).ConclusionsThe acceptance of immediate PPIUCD usage was still low. This might be attributed to the low achievement of education, perceived concern and fears of complications towards IUCD insertion. The male partner’s refusal and religious beliefs also have a role in the usage of postpartum IUCD. Due attention should be given to enhancing educational level of women and effective IUCDs counseling should be given during antenatal care visits to correct misconceptions and fears of complication about PPIUCD insertion.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s40834-018-0071-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Male involvement in antenatal care helps to have safe delivery, especially in developing countries. The problem has been insufficiently studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed male attendance and associated factors at their partners' antenatal visits among antenatal care attendees in Bale Zone health facilities. Cross sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2017 among 609 pregnant mothers. Simple random sampling was used to select participants. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 21). Variables with p-values <0.05 were considered to declare statistical significance in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Male attendance at their partners' antenatal visits was 41.4%. Having primary level of education (AOR=2.15, CI=1.12, 4.11), age ≥ 35 years (AOR=0.3, CI=0.1, 0.87), being farmer (AOR=0.23, CI=0.11, 0.51), having previous antenatal care visit (AOR=0.49, CI=0.26, 0.92) were factors associated with male partner involvement. Male attendance at their partners' antenatal visits was low. Hence, health providers and other stakeholders shall create awareness and implement strategies to boost male partners' involvement in antenatal care visit.