Predictors of Postabortion Family Planning Uptake in the New Juaben Municipality, Ghana.
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Date
2015-02-23
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Abstract
Post abortion care has been identified as a key strategy to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries. It plays a vital role in the treatment of complications associated with unsafe abortion as well as providing post abortion family planning counseling and services to prevent repeat unplanned pregnancies and repeated abortions. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 47,000 women died from complications of unsafe abortion, and the percent of maternal deaths attributed to unsafe abortion remains unchanged at 13% worldwide in 2008, despite global efforts.A descriptive cross-sectional study assessed factors that determine contraceptive uptake among post abortion women in the New Juaben Municipality of Ghana. Using quantitative method of data collection, a structured questionnaire was used to gather data from six hundred and thirty four (634) respondents. Facilities and participants were selected based on multistage sampling technique. The most seekers of post abortion care (PAC) were aged between 20 – 29 years (60.6%), and 59.9% of those who accepted family planning were in the same age category. Abortion seekers were generally well educated; 96.5% of the women have had formal education. Knowledge on contraceptive methods available was high; 67% of the respondents knew about one (1) to four (4), whereas 33% knewfive (5) to seven (7) contraceptive methods. Respondents’ knowledge on when fertility returns following abortion was low;(45.1%) of respondents had no idea, and only 16.7% knowing that, fertility returns within 2 weeks after abortion. The existence of very good relationship between service providers and clients seeking PAC services contributed to contraceptive uptake.Majority (74.6%) of institutions provided postabortion care (PAC), thus on site family planning services and 89.1% had a protective service environment.Majority of clients do not know or have no idea about the opening and closing time of institutions offering PAC services. The cost of PAC services is generally low and institutions providing PAC services are far away from clients. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge on family planning, range and accessibility to post abortion family planning counseling and services serves as a predictive factor in contraceptive uptake.Misconceptions on the use of contraceptives and the fear of side effects are a few barriers to the uptake of family planning.Service providers and all health institutions could strengthen the education on PAC especially on when fertility returns after abortion,not only to prevent repeat unintended pregnancy and abortion, but also because it is integral to achieving the Millennium Development Goal 5.
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A thesis submitted to the Department Of Community Health, School Of Medical Sciences, in Partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Mph (Population And Reproductive Health).