Family planning needs of mountain communities in western Uganda

Abstract

Background: Mountain settings are characterised by limited access to reproductive, maternal and child health services. The scope of health research in these communities limits understanding of contextual needs that are critical in the implementation of effective health programmes. Aims: To establish the family planning needs among couples residing on the slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese District, western Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered questionnaire surveyed 400 couples in the mountainous sub-counties of Kilembe and Mahango between June and July 2015. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe participants' family planning needs. Findings: The majority of the participants (66%) were female. On average every couple had 5 children and 35.5% wanted no additional children. While all participants knew of at least one method of contraception, 32.5% did not know where to obtain family planning services. Use of contraception was 16.3%. Only 2 in 10 individuals who reported wanting no additional children reported using any method. Conclusions: There is low contraceptive use and a high unmet need for family planning among couples residing on the slopes of Rwenzori Mountain in Kasese district. Just over one-third of participants were unaware of where to obtain family planning services. These findings have important implications for effective family planning programmes for mountain residents with low levels of education.

Factors Associated with Uptake of Contraceptives among HIV Positive Women on Dolutegravir based Anti-Retroviral Treatment at Health Centres of Kampala Capital City Authority.  A cross sectional study in Uganda.

“…However, a recent study among HIV positive women carried out at an urban HIV clinic of Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda showed a lower contraceptive uptake (24%) (Nakalema, 2018). Equally, a lower rate was obtained in a study carried out in mountain communities of western Uganda, of 16.3% indicating lower rates of contraceptive use in rural areas compared to urban areas (11). Research from other countries and settings like Ethiopia, a higher contraception use rate was noted among HIV positive women at 44.3% (12).…”