Factors Influencing Oral Contraceptive Utilization Among Women Attending Family Planning Services at Nakaseke Hospital in Nakaseke District. A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Oral contraceptives are pills taken orally by women after having unprotected sex to prevent pregnancies. Oral contraception pills consist of the hormones progestin and estrogen, or only progestin. Purpose:To determine factors influencing oral contraceptive utilization among women attending family planning services at Nakaseke Hospital in Nakaseke district. Study Objectives:The objectives of the study were; to identify the socio-demographic factors, knowledge, and the effects of oral contraceptive utilization among women attending family planning services at Nakaseke Hospital in Nakaseke district. Study methodology:This study employed a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design with a sample size of 87, descriptive statistics like percentages, and frequencies, were used to analyze data and presented in frequency tables, pie charts, and graphs. Results:The majority 53(60.9%) of respondents reside in urban areas where the majority attained secondary education at 15(46.9%) for which the husband's decision in a home significantly influenced his wife's family planning method at 32(36.8%). The majority 84(96.6%) had ever heard about OC use in their lifetime where the source of information is hospitals through health professionals at 60(68%). The majority (98%) had ever experienced side effects of OC use for which the majority 36 ( 41.4%) of them agreed that OC use can cause specific side effects. Conclusion:18(34%) were using OC with the majority residing in urban areas at 53(60.9%), the majority attained secondary education at 15(38.5%) with husbands influencing decision-making on the family type at home at 19(59. 4%). 96.6% knew OC use and had obtained information from hospitals at 60(68%) with the majority ever experiencing side effects of OC use at (97.7%) Recommendation:More campaigns on the importance of OC use to women should be done through sexual health education, seminars, carrying out counseling, and psychological support to women who fear the side effects of OC use.