A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES, ARBAMINCH UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Abstract

Introduction: Long-acting reversible contraceptives can be reversible methods that prevent pregnancy more than three years per application which include sub-dermal implants, intrauterine devices. They are convenient, very effective, long-lasting, reversible, and cost-effective. In addition to these, the effectiveness of Long-acting reversible contraceptives is not dependent on compliance with taking the oral contraceptives daily or taking the regular injection at clinics; therefore they prevent the failure rate due to the incorrect use of contraceptives. According to studies, female health care providers had the knowledge and favorable attitude for long-acting reversible contraceptives. Although they had good knowledge and favorable for Long-acting reversible contraceptives and family planning methods, 54% of female health care providers not using any modern family planning methods. Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of long-acting reversible contraceptives use and associated factors among female health care providers in Gamo and Gofa Zone Hospitals in 2021. Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted and supported with qualitative data. 464 female health care providers were selected by a simple random sampling technique for quantitative data and a purposive sampling technique was used for qualitative data. The data was entered EPI data version 7.1 and analysis was done by Statistical Package for Social Science version 24. Coding and cleaning was done before data analysis. The strength of association was measured using an odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Statistical significance was declared p-value <0.05. Result: A total of 464 female health care providers were included in study with response rate of 100%. The magnitude of Long-acting reversible contraceptives among female health care providers in the study is 28.8%, which is (25.8% implant and 3% IUCD). Logistic regression shown monthly income of the family [AOR=2.005; 95% CI: 1.236-3.251], desire number of children to have [AOR=2.147; 95% CI: 1.249-3.693], knowledge on LARCs [AOR= 2.320; 95% CI: 1.236-3.251], women with age category of 25-34 years[AOR=2.407; 95% CI: 1.240-4.672] and 15-24 years [AOR=2.105; 95% CI: 0.668-6.632], age at first sexual intercourse [AOR=0.401; 95% CI: 0.219-0.734], had trained on family planning methods [AOR= 3.460; 95% CI: 1.203-4.589] were significantly associated with utilization of long acting reversible contraceptive methods. Conclusion: Women monthly income, the age category of women, the desired number of child and age at first sexual intercourse were identified as statistically significant to the utilization of Long-acting reversible contraceptives among female health care providers and they should update their basic knowledge of Long-acting reversible contraceptives.