Socio-demographic characteristics of postpartum women
Among the total of 424 women expected to be included in the study, 416 had participated with the response rate of 98.1 percent. Of these more than half of the respondents, 249(60%) were categorized under the age of 25-35 years, 105(25%) were 18-24 years and the remaining 52(15%) were greater than or equal to 36 years old. The mean age of the study participants was 25.84 with ±SD 5.78. With regards to ethnicity, nearly three-fourth of the participants 290(70%) were Wolaita, and 97(23%) were Gurage and the remaining 27(7%) were other ethnic groups. More of the participants 159(38.2%) were Protestant, 112(26.9%) Orthodox, 109(26.2%) Muslim and 36(8.7%) were Catholic followers. Concerning marital status, the majority of postnatal care attendants 295(71%) were married and only 28(6.7%) were widowed.
Among the study subjects, 117(28.1%) had no formal educations whereas 112(27%), 122(29.3%) and 65(15.6%) had primary school level, secondary school level, and territory school level of education respectively.
In the case of occupation, more than one-third of the respondents 146(35.1%) postnatal women were private workers, 98(23.6%) were farmers, 86(20.7%) were government workers and the remaining 86(20.7%) were housewives. More than half of the study participants 258 (62%) had obtained an estimated monthly income of 601-1550 ETB whereas 24 (6%) of the respondents had <600ETB estimated monthly income (See Table 1).
Maternal and reproductive health characteristics of the study participants
The intention of modern contraceptive useThe majority of the study participants 315 (75.7%) had two and above several children during the time of the study. Nearly one-third of the respondents, 101(24.3%) reported that they had only one child living with them. Two third (66.4%) of the study subjects had less than or equal to two living children. The majority of the respondents 261(62.7%) had antenatal care services. More than three-fourths of the study participants, 346(83.2%) had received family planning counseling throughout their lifetime. Three hundred twenty-six (78.4%) of the respondents had a previous history of postnatal care follow the visit. Slightly more than three-fourth, 316(78%) the respondents had reported that they had a discussion postpartum family planning with their partners. The majority of postnatal women,348(83.7%) had husband approval of contraceptive and 334(80.3%) had a previous history of contraceptive use. Three hundred sixteen (76%) of the respondents said that menses had resumed after recent birth, and 333(80%) explained that sexual activity had resumed. In the case of a decision on contraceptive use, less than half of the respondents (47.1%) reported that they had jointly put the decision to use contraceptives with their husbands (See table 2).
More than two-third, 291 (70%) of the study participant expressed their intention to use modern contraceptives for the future. From those who desire to use contraceptive in the future, implants 125(43%) were the most intended contraceptive method followed by injectables 62(21.3%), pills 45(15.5%), condom 41(14%), IUCD 15(5.2%), and tubal ligation 3(1%). Concerning reproductive intention, the majority of the study participants 164(56.4%) had intended to use contraceptive for spacing, limiting 84(28.9%), want an additional child soon 37(12.7%), and undecided about future 6(2%). Half of the study participants 146(50.2%) planned timing of contraceptive use of intention was between six weeks to six months followed by within six weeks 67 (23%), between six months to a year 42(14.4%), above a year 25(8.6%), and uncertain 11(3.8%). One hundred twenty-five (30%) of the study participants had no intention to use modern contraceptives in the future. The main reason for not to use modern contraceptives in the future was husband refusal 56 (44.8%), want additional child 36(28.8%), fear of side effect 20(16%) and do not know about family planning 13(10.4%).
Factors associated with intention of modern contraceptive use among postpartum women
On Bivariate analysis participants educational status, clients number of alive children, antenatal care follow up, previous postnatal care follow up, receiving counseling during antenatal care, discussion with partner about postpartum family planning, menses status after childbirth, sexual activity after birth, previous history of contraceptive use, husbands approval of contraceptive use and knowledge of postpartum contraceptive showed statistically significant association with intention of modern contraceptive use among postnatal women. On multivariate analysis, participants who had a secondary level of education, attending ANC follow up, menses status after birth, husbands' approval of family planning and knowledge of postpartum family planning was found to have statistically significant to the intention of modern contraceptive utilization among postnatal women. Participants who had a secondary level of education were 2 times more likely to intend to use modern contraceptives than participants who had no formal education (AOR=2.052,95%CI:1.064-3.958). Respondents who attended antenatal care service were 1.7 times more likely to intend to use modern contraceptives than their counterparts (AOR=1.736,95%CI:1.021-2.951). The study subjects whose menses resumed were 2 times more likely intend to use than participants whose menses did not resume (AOR=2.047,95%CI:1.141-3.675). Postpartum women who had husbands' approval of family planning use were 2.4 times more likely to intend to use modern contraceptives than postpartum women whose husband did not approve family planning use (AOR= 2.395,95%CI:1.501-5.458). Participants who had good knowledge about family planning were 2.5 times more likely to intend to use modern contraceptives than participants who poor knowledge about family planning(AOR=2.535:95%CI:1.499-4.282) (See table 3).