THE KNOWLEDGE OF WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN SANDPIT COMMUNITY ON THE USE OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS

Abstract

WHO (2003, estimated that about 75 million pregnancies worldwide are unplanned/unwanted. The rise in the number of unwanted pregnancies is significantly associated to inadequate knowledge on contraception and that more women especially in rural communities do not go for modern contraceptive methods.

The aim of the study was to investigate the usage of contraceptive among women of child bearing age in the Sandpit Community. The study design was a cross sectional study design; participants were recruited into this study using convenient sampling method. Interviewer administered guided questionnaires were used for data collection in a sampled population of 50. Data was imputed into Microsoft 2016, analysed using the statistical package for social science version 20 and presented in tables and graphs.

Results from the study showed that the usage of contraceptives was fair: (65%) of the population used contraceptives. The factors hindering the use of contraceptives were; none reason (12%), uncertain about efficacy and safety (68%), partners disapproval (50%), religious reasons (30%), financial constraints (54%), ignorance and lack of knowledge on contraceptives (72%).

The population lack knowledge on contraceptive and do not practice it due to partner disapproval and fear of its efficacy and sight effects.

Health care providers should improve on their knowledge and skills to continuously updates and strengthened to deliver the right and quality service as well as sensitization on contraceptives. Male partners should be actively involved in decision making.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

The concept of family planning is nearly universal, with 95% of all women between the ages of 15 to 49 years knowing at least one method of modern family planning (Malone et al., 2010). Family planning is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and treatment of involuntary infertility.

The various convensional contraceptive (CC) methods available are hormonal and non-hormonal methods. Contraception means the prevention of conception (Denise, 2010). Contraception is as old as mankind; it started since in the Old Testament with Onan who spilled his semen on the ground whenever he had sex with his brother’s wife because he was avoiding to give offspring to his brother. (Genesis 38:9).

Most countries in Africa with the lowest rate of contraceptives experience the higher maternal infant and child mortality rate and higher fertility rate in Africa (WHO, 2012). Each year, 180_200millions pregnancies are reported all over the world.

About 75% of these pregnancies are undesired with the result that, about 50 million end up in induced abortions. WHO (2012), estimated that about 20 million of the total number of induced abortions are at risk for the mother.

WHO (2013), equally postulated that, approximately 600,000 women die each year because of pregnancy and delivery related complications, that is about one maternal death per minute. Up to 95-98% of these deaths occurred in developing countries where the risk of dying during pregnancy is compounded by a high number of pregnancies per women, poor socio-economic conditions and inadequacy of maternal care services in the countries.

Worldwide, the percentage of couples currently using  contraception is estimated to have reached 58% and the level of use is higher in the more developed regions than in the less developed regions (WHO, 2013), while overall levels of contraceptive use remains higher in the more developed regions, the gap is narrowing (Rimal, 2008).

However, in the group of least developed countries, traditional methods of contraception account for 27% of all contraception use, a proportion far higher than that in the more developed regions (UNFPA, 2015).

In Cameroon, according to Macro (2017), an estimated 0.3% – 0.5 % of unwanted pregnancies were reported; furthermore, the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2001showed that 7.8% of the women aged 15-19 years were pregnant of their first child in rural communities.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

WHO (2003), estimated that about 75 million pregnancies worldwide are unplanned/unwanted. The rise in the number of unwanted pregnancies is significantly associated to inadequate knowledge on contraception and that more women especially in rural communities do not go for modern contraceptive methods.

Most of these unintended pregnancies are not carried to full term, but aborted often in unhygienic conditions leading to serious consequences and a rise in maternal and infant mortality rate. Also, 676 per 100,000 women aged 1 to 49 get pregnant unwilling, with an estimated, 32% of all maternal deaths attributed to unsafe abortions (Adhikari, 2009).

Adequate knowledge of family planning can reduce many of these mistimed and unplanned pregnancies, while at the same time it could reduce the number of unsafe abortions as well as the mortality rate (Campbell, 2006). Contraceptive use optimization can effectively halt the overwhelming population growth and in full improve (MCH). There are a number of studies indicating the low use of contraceptives in rural communities of Cameroon. This study is intended to look at the use of contraceptives among women of child bearing age in Sandpit and  the factors that hinder contraceptive use.

In fact, in Cameroon, contraceptive use all forms inclusive is just 26% and 13% for morden contraception.

During my internship at the sandpit community I noticed that the population of sandpit have wrong notion about contraceptive.

1.3 Research questions

1. What do women of child bearing age know about contraception?
2. What proportion of women of child bearing age practices contraception?
3. What are the factors that hinder the use of contraceptives among women of child bearing age?