SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES: THE CASE OF SENDAFA-BAKE TOWN, OROMIA REGION, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopia has one of the highest Total Fertility Rates of 4.8 While several efforts had been made to improve FP in the country still FP utilization is very low. Effective FP intervention is one of the suggested strategies to alleviate the challenge of fast population growth. Despite efforts made to manage increase on population size in Ethiopia, the effectiveness of the intervention become minimal in different areas of the country. This study was initiated to identify socio-cultural factors affecting FP service, status and practice of utilizing FP service in the study area. A total of 198 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique to collect the data. Pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the respondents to collect necessary data for the study, and interview were conducted for the qualitative data. The socio-demographic result indicated that educational, income status and practice of FP service positively determined choice of FP options while religion, sex preference and early marriage was identified to negatively influence the service utilization among the targeted women. In addition, the finding indicate about (80.5%) of women reproductive age has awareness about FP but, the practice of FP methods was (41.1%). IUCD (39%) and Injectables (36%) were the most widely practiced method. (58.9%) Women not practiced FP methods and religion was taken as one of the major barriers for low utilization of FP and almost half of women had intention to have more number of children. The overall prevalence of FP method was low. Increasing education and participation of women in different economical, societal and local issues were reported to be economic and social benefits among the household identified to use FP service. Therefore, comprehensive IEC and efforts by government and non-government organization to work and involve in favor of bringing positive behavioral change towards FP service utilization are proposed.