Abstract:
ABSTRACT Introduction: contraceptive switching refers to the case where a person changes his or her major method of birth control. when a switch is made to another contraceptive method, there is often a period of time between the switch when a person is at risk for unprotected intercourse. choice of a less effective method increases the risk of an unplanned pregnancy, as does using a method incorrectly or inconsistently.
Objective: to determine the magnitude of long acting reversible contraceptive method switching and associated factors among women attending family planning clinic at public health facilities of Dilla town Southern Ethiopia.
Method: A facility based cross sectional study was employed. Sample was taken using systematic random sampling technique; data were collected from 381 reproductive age women who attend family planning clinic for short acting contraceptive method utilization using pretested, structured and interviewer administered questionnaire. All data were cleaned, coded and entered into EPI data 4.42 and exported to SPSS version 25:0 software for analysis. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to assess the association between the explanatory and dependent variables. Adjusted Odds ratios calculated with 95% Confidence interval with a significant level of P<0.05. Result 27.6% (95% CI: 25.3,29.8) of the study participant switched from long acting reversible contraceptive method; of them majority 92(87.6%) were from implant. From the multivariable logistic regression; being unmarried 12.019(4.250,33.993), women’s having primary, educational level, 3.652(1.412,9.443), having plan to space birth 0.197(0.076,0.511), partner’s opposition 3.071(1.297,7.268) and having age 20 and above at first pregnancy were 0.401(0.217,0.740) statistically significant association with switching from long acting reversible contraceptive methods to short acting contraceptive methods. Conclusion and Recommendation prevalence of switching from long-acting reversible contraceptive methods to short acting methods was high; Out of ten short acting user women, three of them switched. Being unmarried, husband opposition, and attending primary education were increases the likely hood of switching. having plan to space birth and having age 20 and above at their first pregnancy were protective for switching. The town health bureau and concerned bodies program should focus on couple’s communication and also the FP services should also be relevant for husband / partners to participate
