Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Family Planning among Mothers attending Antenatal Care in Rural Uganda: Implications for Maternal Health and Population Growth

Abstract

Family planning remains a critical aspect of maternal health and population management in Uganda, particularly in rural areas. Despite concerted efforts to increase awareness and accessibility, utilization rates remain suboptimal. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of family planning among mothers attending antenatal care in Kyotera district, Uganda. A sample of 138 participants completed questionnaires, revealing a nuanced landscape: while overall knowledge of family planning was high (73.9%), a significant minority demonstrated poor understanding (26.1%). Similarly, though the majority exhibited positive attitudes towards family planning (71.0%), a substantial proportion held negative views (29.0%). Notably, 62.3% of mothers were not utilizing any family planning methods, despite 37.7% reporting usage, with injectable contraceptives being the most common (42.3%). These findings underscore the need for targeted education campaigns, enhanced service accessibility, and dispelling misconceptions to promote informed decision-making and uptake of family planning methods. Addressing these challenges is vital for improving maternal health outcomes and managing population growth in rural Uganda. Keywords: Family planning, Maternal health, Kyotera district, Rural Uganda, Antenatal care, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices.