UTILIZATION OF INTRA-UTERINE DEVICES AS A FAMILY PLANNING METHOD: A CASE OF SOROTI REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL IN EASTERN UGANDA

Description

This study investigated determining factors for utilization of IUDs as a family planning method in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital in Eastern Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to: examine the effect of knowledge levels on IUD uptake among women of reproductive age in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital; establish the role socio-cultural factors play in IUD uptake among women of reproductive age in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital; assess the effect of facility related factors on IUD uptake among women of reproductive age in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey research design, taking on the quantitative approach. Simple random sampling and Purposive sampling techniques were used. The researcher used a sample of 60 respondents. The data collection methods were self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive data was analyzed based on tables and graphs derived from SPSS while relational and inferential statistics were analyzed using the Pearson‟s technique (r) and regression analysis respectively. Findings of the study revealed a significant positive correlation between knowledge levels and IUD uptake (r=.243 p > 0.05: adjusted R square value of 0.037); a significant positive correlation between socio-cultural factors and IUD uptake (r=.653** p < 0.05: adjusted R square value of 0.416); and a significant positive correlation between facility related factors and IUD uptake (r=.140 p < 0.05: adjusted R square value of 0.003) among women of reproductive age in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. It was concluded that poor IUD uptake among women of reproductive age in Soroti Regional Referral Hospital is not entirely contributed by knowledge levels but also by socio-cultural and facility related factors. The study recommends that there is need for creation of public awareness and access by the management of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital through integrated outreaches on IUD promotion; management of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital should encourage male participation in sharing the responsibility to practice and support family planning as a vital strategy in increasing the uptake of IUDs; there is need to address logistics and stock-outs to ensure that women have both easier physical accesses to IUDs as well as subsidizing prices to increase IUD accessibility for rural users.