Awareness and attitudes towards intra uterine contraceptive device use among adult females seeking family planning services at Kiswa health centre iii.

Abstract

Introduction: The intra uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is a long term reversible contraceptive method that can contribute to improving the reproductive health indices by prevention of unwanted pregnancies. In Uganda, its use is at 0.5%, at Kiswa health center III its uptake keeps declining by the year. The awareness and attitudes of the potential users, at this health centre, are not known and therefore a need to be investigated in an effort to find solutions to this challenge. Objective: To establish the relationship between awareness, attitudes and usage of the intra uterine contraceptive device among females seeking family planning services at Kiswa health centre III, Nakawa division, Kampala Capital city Authority (KCCA). Methods: This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study where 372 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the effect of independent variables on awareness of the IUCD. Results: Study participants were 372 with a mean age of 24 years, 295(79.3%) respondents were aware of the IUCD. Sources of information on the IUCD were the health workers at 48.1% and friends at 26.1%. Occupation strongly determined being aware of the IUCD. Half of the respondents, 150(50.8%), considered the IUCD as a good contraceptive method but only 12(4.1%) were currently using the IUCD. Conclusions: The level of awareness of IUCD use among women seeking family planning services at Kiswa Health Centre III was high but attitude was poor. Being employed was associated with awareness of IUCD. Current use of the IUCD was very low and this was partly because of the poor attitude among the potential clients.