INTRODUCTIONContraceptive use has increased worldwide over the last decade. Yet, Africa like many other regions of the developing world continues to have a high unmet need for family planning. Approximately 25 percent of women and couples in sub-Saharan Africa who want to space or limit their births are not using any form of contraception. More than half of the people in Africa are younger than 25 years old, so unmet need is expected to increase as these individuals enter their reproductive years. Long-acting and permanent contraception's are Family Planning (FP) methods providing pregnancy protection for more than one year leaving the user free from any further responsibility and function for a long period of time once applied. They include the Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD), implants, female sterilization or Tubal Ligation (TL) and male sterilization or vasectomy.
2,3Family planning services that provides accurate and complete information about contraceptive methods meets ABSTRACT Background: Utilization of family planning can improve the means of people in poverty. Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods in particular can considerably reduce the level of unwanted pregnancy as well as maternal mortality and morbidity more in developing countries. Thus, study was conducted with the aim of assessing the level of LARC utilization and associated factors among married women (15-49) in Areka town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 357 women within the study area. Population proportion to size was used to assign sample to kebele and participates were selected by systematic random sampling technique from randomly selected kebeles. Data collection was conducted by trained data collectors, using structured and pretested questionnaire. Finally, data entered, cleaned, and analysed in SPSS 16. Results: The utilization of LARC was 106(29.7%) of study participants. Particularly, LARCs utilization were 81(22.7%) for implants and 25(7.0%), Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD). Statistically, LARC utilization was (AOR=2.47 at 95%CI (1.24-4.90)) times likely among 26-36 aged mothers compared to 15-24 age groups. Government employed mothers were (AOR=2.59 at 95%CI (1.39-4.79)) times probable to use LARC compared to merchants. Hence, maternal education and occupation were the independent predictors of LARC utilization as the principal findings of this study. Conclusions: Enormous extent of unmet need exist in utilization of LARC within the study area. Mothers' age and occupation were significantly associated with its utilization. Therefore, health promotion activities on the benefits of LARC need to be undertaken to increase awareness and usage of these contraceptives.