Family Planning Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Married Couples in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 4; p. e61335
• Main Authors: Tilahun, Tizta, Coene, Gily, Luchters, Stanley, Kassahun, Wondwosen, Leye, Els, Temmerman, Marleen, Degomme, Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.04.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Abortion; Adult; Birth control; Contraception; Contraception - statistics & numerical data; Contraceptives; Couples; Demographics; Ethiopia; Family planning; Family Planning Services - statistics & numerical data; Female; Females; Fertility; Group dynamics; Gynecology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health surveys; Humans; Knowledge; Male; Maternal & child health; Maternal mortality; Medicine; Men; Mens health; Obstetrics; Oral contraceptives; Physical training; Pills; Population; Population studies; Pregnancy; Public health; Qualitative analysis; Regression analysis; Reproductive health; Rural areas; Sampling designs; Sex Factors; Side effects; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Spouses - statistics & numerical data; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teaching methods; Training; Urban areas; Wives; Women; Ethiopia; Belgium
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061335

Understanding why people do not use family planning is critical to address unmet needs and to increase contraceptive use. According to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2011, most women and men had knowledge on some family planning methods but only about 29% of married women were using contraceptives. 20% women had an unmet need for family planning. We examined knowledge, attitudes and contraceptive practice as well as factors related to contraceptive use in Jimma zone, Ethiopia. Data were collected from March to May 2010 among 854 married couples using a multi-stage sampling design. Quantitative data based on semi-structured questionnaires was triangulated with qualitative data collected during focus group discussions. We compared proportions and performed logistic regression analysis. The concept of family planning was well known in the studied population. Sex-stratified analysis showed pills and injectables were commonly known by both sexes, while long-term contraceptive methods were better known by women, and traditional methods as well as emergency contraception by men. Formal education was the most important factor associated with better knowledge about contraceptive methods (aOR = 2.07, p<0.001), in particular among women (aOR(women )= 2.77 vs. aOR(men) = 1.49; p<0.001). In general only 4 out of 811 men ever used contraception, while 64% and 43% females ever used and were currently using contraception respectively. The high knowledge on contraceptives did not match with the high contraceptive practice in the study area. The study demonstrates that mere physical access (proximity to clinics for family planning) and awareness of contraceptives are not sufficient to ensure that contraceptive needs are met. Thus, projects aiming at increasing contraceptive use should contemplate and establish better counseling about contraceptive side effects and method switch. Furthermore in all family planning activities both wives' and husbands' participation should be considered.