Background: Increasing access to family planning helps to ensure the reproductive right, decrease unintended pregnancy, improve health and nutritional status of children, reduction of maternal mortality and enhance longer birth spacing . There is continually low utilization of long acting and permanent contraceptive method among low and middle income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the Utilization of Long Acting and permanent Contraceptive methods and associated factor among Women of Reproductive Age in west Guji Zone.
Methods: Mixed study design was conducted among women of reproductive age in West Guji Zone. Systematic random sampling method was used to select study subjects for the survey with sample size of 507. Descriptive was utilized to summarize the data while logistic regression to assess factors influencing the utilization of Long Acting and permanent Contraceptive methods use. Statistical significance was declared for variables outcomes of the P-value less than 0.05.
Result: Current utilization of Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods at West Guji zone among reproductive aged group was 51.1%. More than median of participants had negative altitude (72.4%) and poor knowledge (57%) towards long acting and permanent contraceptive method. Educational status of women, number of alive children, acceptance of utilization of Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods , how treated by other staff and waiting time during service delivery are significant determinant factor of long acting and permanent family planning method. According to qualitative data, Myths and misconceptions about utilization of intrauterine contraceptive device and implants and negative altitude to ward Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods were major barriers to the use of Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods.
Conclusion: Educational status, number of alive children ( Parity) , acceptance of Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods , how treated by other staff and waiting time to get the service are statistically significant predictors of utilization of long acting and permanent family planning methods. More than half of women had negative altitude and poor knowledge on Long Acting And permanent Contraceptive methods. Myths and misconception might affect the utilization of long acting and permanent family planning method.