Current Utilization of Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods among rural and urban residents of Kersa District and Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: Evidence from Kersa and Harar Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Evidence indicates that 44% of maternal mortality can be averted by the provision of contraceptives. Regardless of its convenience and effectiveness, Long Acting and Permanent Contraceptives Methods (LAPCM) are the least utilized methods in Ethiopia. Hence, this analysis is aimed at assessing the current utilization of LAPCM among urban and rural residents of Kersa district and Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia.
Method: The analysis used data from all reproductive age group women residing in Kersa (841) and Harar (339) Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSS) that are operated by Kersa Demographic Surveillance and Health Research Center, under Haramaya University. Kersa HDSS is distinctly rural while Harar HDSS is distinctly urban. Data were collected by using Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System questionnaire. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify associated factors.
Results: The prevalence of a long acting and permanent contraceptive methods was found to be 10.6% among rural and 20.1% among urban residents. During the study overall, 157(13.3%) women were using one of these contraceptive methods. The most commonly used method was implants (145 (12.3%)), followed by IUCD (11 (0.9%)). In this study the odds of using the method is 2.8 times higher in urban HDSS residents than their counter part in rural HDSS (AOR=2.77, 95% CI=1.54, 4.96). The women with a family income of 1600 birr and above were 4 times (AOR=4.02, 95% CI=2.34, 6.90) more likely to use LAPCM than those who had an income of less than 549.99 Ethiopian birr.
Conclusions: The study found the prevalence of LAPCM was low. Having a higher income and living in an urban area were significantly associated with its utilization. Ensuring LAPCM service accessibility and availability, focusing on rural settings and on women of low income, would improve its uptake.