Introduction: The goal of the study is to assess the determinants of the choice of family planning method among women on family planning at Chawama Level One Hospital. The choice of a family planning method among women is influenced by a combination of personal, cultural, social, and medical factors. These determinants can vary from one individual to another. However, little is known about the research study that assessed the determinants of the choice of family planning method among women on family planning in Chawama Level One Hospital, hence this study. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study where 400 respondents aged 15 years and above participated in the study. Participants were randomly selected. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistics Package for Social Sciences computer software package version 26.0 was used to analyze data. Chi square and fisher’s exact tests were used to test the significance of the association between knowledge on FP, attitude towards FP, choice of FP among women. A 95% confidence interval and P value of 0.05 were used to ascertain the degree of significance. Multivariate binary logistic regression model to determine predictors of choice of FP method was also used. Results: On analyzing the dependent variables, most women (337, 84.3%) chose an appropriate family planning (FP) method, while only a few (63, 15.7%) did not. Majority of respondents, 333 (83.3%) had high knowledge levels while 67 (16.7%) had low knowledge levels and majority 338 (84.5%) had a positive attitude towards FP while 62 (15.5%) had a negative attitude. Significant associations were found (P < 0.05) between, parity, and knowledge on choice of FP method. Thus, women who had children with odds ratio more than 1 (1.489) Confidence Interval (95%), (OR: 1.489, CI: 1.050 - 2.110, P: < 0.028) and Women who had high knowledge levels odds ratio (14.538) Confidence Interval (95%) (OR = 14.538, 95% CI: 6.956 - 36.849, p < 0.001) were more likely to make a correct choice of FP (Table 4). Conclusion: Negative attitude and low knowledge levels were the main reasons associated with wrong choices of FP method. Particular attention should therefore be given to ensuring that women are given adequate information on FP methods order to improve the quality of life.
Cite this paper
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