Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda
Abstract Background The global high rate of unintended pregnancy is a direct result of underutilization of contraceptives methods. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating access to modern family planning services. By examining the extent to which healthcare provid...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Contraception and Reproductive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-024-00274-y |
| _version_ | 1797219542154346496 |
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| author | Keneth Opiro Jimmy Opee Margret Sikoti Pebolo Francis Pebalo Jackline Hope Ayikoru Harriet Akello Priscilla Manano Felix Bongomin |
| author_facet | Keneth Opiro Jimmy Opee Margret Sikoti Pebolo Francis Pebalo Jackline Hope Ayikoru Harriet Akello Priscilla Manano Felix Bongomin |
| author_sort | Keneth Opiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The global high rate of unintended pregnancy is a direct result of underutilization of contraceptives methods. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating access to modern family planning services. By examining the extent to which healthcare providers practice what they preach, this research aimed to shed light on the prevalence and factors associated with modern contraceptive use among female HCW at two university teaching hospitals in northern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among qualified female healthcare workers (FHCWs) at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) and St. Mary’s Hospital-Lacor in Gulu, Uganda. Convenient consecutive sampling was used to enroll study participants. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine factors independently associated with modern contraceptive use. P < 0.005 was considered statistically significant. Results We enrolled 201 female HCWs, with a median age 31 (interquartile range: 27–38) years. Overall, 15 (7.5%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.4 —11.1) participants utilized modern methods of family planning in the last 3 months while lifetime use was at 73.6% (n = 148, 95%CI: 67.3 — 79.4%). Most common method utilized was intra-uterine devices [IUDs] (51%, n = 76), followed by sub-dermal implants (15.4%, n = 23). Eighty-five (42.3%, n = 85) participants had desire to get pregnant. Factors independently associated with utilization of modern methods contraceptives were working at GRRH (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.0, 95% CI: 1.59 — 10.0, p = 0.003), and being single (aOR: 3.3, 9%CI: 1.02 —10.57, p = 0.046). Conclusions Utilization of modern methods of contraceptive among female HCWs in this study is lower than the Uganda national estimates for the general female population. Most utilized method is IUDs followed by sub-dermal implants. More studies are recommended to see if this finding is similar among FHCWs in other regions of Uganda and the rest of Africa while also considering Male Healthcare Workers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:35:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97515a026ef646c3a74a8ea797b8d775 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-7426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:35:18Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Contraception and Reproductive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-97515a026ef646c3a74a8ea797b8d7752024-04-07T11:33:33ZengBMCContraception and Reproductive Medicine2055-74262024-04-019111110.1186/s40834-024-00274-yUtilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern UgandaKeneth Opiro0Jimmy Opee1Margret Sikoti2Pebolo Francis Pebalo3Jackline Hope Ayikoru4Harriet Akello5Priscilla Manano6Felix Bongomin7Gulu UniversityGulu UniversitySt Mary’s Hospital LacorGulu UniversityGulu UniversityGulu UniversitySt Mary’s Hospital LacorGulu UniversityAbstract Background The global high rate of unintended pregnancy is a direct result of underutilization of contraceptives methods. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role in promoting and facilitating access to modern family planning services. By examining the extent to which healthcare providers practice what they preach, this research aimed to shed light on the prevalence and factors associated with modern contraceptive use among female HCW at two university teaching hospitals in northern Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among qualified female healthcare workers (FHCWs) at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) and St. Mary’s Hospital-Lacor in Gulu, Uganda. Convenient consecutive sampling was used to enroll study participants. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine factors independently associated with modern contraceptive use. P < 0.005 was considered statistically significant. Results We enrolled 201 female HCWs, with a median age 31 (interquartile range: 27–38) years. Overall, 15 (7.5%, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.4 —11.1) participants utilized modern methods of family planning in the last 3 months while lifetime use was at 73.6% (n = 148, 95%CI: 67.3 — 79.4%). Most common method utilized was intra-uterine devices [IUDs] (51%, n = 76), followed by sub-dermal implants (15.4%, n = 23). Eighty-five (42.3%, n = 85) participants had desire to get pregnant. Factors independently associated with utilization of modern methods contraceptives were working at GRRH (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 5.0, 95% CI: 1.59 — 10.0, p = 0.003), and being single (aOR: 3.3, 9%CI: 1.02 —10.57, p = 0.046). Conclusions Utilization of modern methods of contraceptive among female HCWs in this study is lower than the Uganda national estimates for the general female population. Most utilized method is IUDs followed by sub-dermal implants. More studies are recommended to see if this finding is similar among FHCWs in other regions of Uganda and the rest of Africa while also considering Male Healthcare Workers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-024-00274-yModern contraceptivesUtilizationHealthcare workersGulu University |
| spellingShingle | Keneth Opiro Jimmy Opee Margret Sikoti Pebolo Francis Pebalo Jackline Hope Ayikoru Harriet Akello Priscilla Manano Felix Bongomin Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda Contraception and Reproductive Medicine Modern contraceptives Utilization Healthcare workers Gulu University |
| title | Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda |
| title_full | Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda |
| title_short | Utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at Gulu university teaching hospitals in Northern Uganda |
| title_sort | utilization of modern contraceptives among female health care workers at gulu university teaching hospitals in northern uganda |
| topic | Modern contraceptives Utilization Healthcare workers Gulu University |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-024-00274-y |
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