The Challenges Of Modern Family Planning Methods On Fertility Rate In Zanzibar: Case Of Makoongwe Island In Mkoani District-Pemba

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at assessing the challenges of modern family planning methods on fertility rate in Makoongwe Island with the following specific objectives; to examine the extent to which Makoongwe people use modern family planning methods, to identify the contribution of institutional support in promoting the use of modern family planning methods in study area, to assess the achievement of using modern family planning methods on fertility rate in Makoongwe Island; and to assess the challenges of using modern family planning methods in study area.

This study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The questionnaires, interviews and documentary review were the methods/tools used to collect data. The total of 74 households was involved in survey, 4 key informants from Ministry of Health and 2 Islamic scholars were interviewed. Both descriptive and statistical techniques of data analysis were employed to analyze the collected data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 and Micro-soft Excel were used to help the process of analyzing data.

The results of this study showed that many people of the study area did not use modern family planning methods. The study also demonstrated that most of the people who used modern family planning methods managed to plan for family size. The results of findings illustrated that side effects from the use of modern family planning methods, lack of knowledge and awareness are among the challenges of using modern family planning methods in study area. Furthermore, the study recommended that more efforts should be taken by the government, NGOs, service providers, family planning officers and individuals to encourage people to use modern family planning methods.