FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE UTILISATION AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING BUMOOLI HEALTH CENTER IN NAMAYINGO DICTRICT-EASTERN UGANDA

ABSTRACT

Family planning was cited as essential to achievement of millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015. However this was not achieved. Problem statement: Low utilisation of FP services has led to a high fertility rate of 6.2 children per woman in her lifetime in Uganda, and in Namayingo district only 10% use FP compared to the Purpose of the study: To assess the factors associated with low FP service utilization among women at Bumooli health center III in Namayingo district, eastern Uganda. Study design: A descriptive cross sectional study using quantitative data collection among 201 women of child bearing age was employed. Data was collected using pretested researcher administered questionnaires and analyzed manually by tally counting and results presented in form Finding: A total of 201 women were recruited, the major factors associated with low utilization of FP services were; cultural beliefs (98.5%), low socio-economic status (80.1%) with 45.2% peasants, 27.9% house wives and 12.4% employed. Peer influence (42.5%), and low level of education where 7.1% of 29.9% of the non-educated were using FP. The finding also identified that most of the respondents were housewives 42% with no stable financial support. Conclusions; The study showed that; cultural beliefs, low socio-economic status, Peer influence and low level of education are the major factors affecting utilization of FP services at Bumooli  Health Center III in Namayingo district.