TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................. i
SUPERVISOR'S APPROVAL ....................................................................................................... ii
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................... viii
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................. ix
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... X
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. I
I.O Introduction ............................................................................................................................... I
I.l Background of the study ........................................................................................................... I
I.2 Problem statement ..................................................................................................................... 2
I.3 General objective ...................................................................................................................... 3
I.4 Specific objectives .................................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Research question ..................................................................................................................... 3
I.6 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 3
I. 7 conceptual framework ............................................................................................................... 4
I.8.0 Scope of the study .................................................................................................................. 6
I.8.l Geographical scope ................................................................................................................ 6
I.8.2 Time Scope ............................................................................................................................ 6
CllAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 7
2.0 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................... 7
' 2.1 The knowledge and attitude towards oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18
to 35 years attending ANC at Lira regional referral hospital.. ........................................................ 7
2.2 The influence of socio-cultural factors on oral contraceptive use among women aged between
18 to 35 years attending ANC at Lira regional referral hospital... .................................................. 9
2.3 Other factors that influence oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18 to 35
years attending ANC at Lira regional referral hospital... .............................................................. I 0
2.3.I Availability and uptake OC .................................................................................................. 10
2.3.3 Pill utilization pattern on OCs use ....................................................................................... II
2.3.4 Previous experience of OCs use ........................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... I3
3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 13
v
3 .I Study design ........................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Study area ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.3 Study population ..................................................................................................................... 13
3.3 .I Inclusion criteria .................................................................................................................. 14
3.3.2 Exclusion criteria ................................................................................................................. 14
3.4 Sample size estimation ............................................................................................................ 14
3.5 Data Collection instruments .................................................................................................... 14
3.5.llnterviews ............................................................................................................................. 14
3.5 .2 Questionnaires ...................................................................................................................... 14
3.6 Study variables ........................................................................................................................ 14
3.7 Data collection management ................................................................................................... 15
3.8 Data analysis ........................................................................................................................... 15
3.9 Quality control ........................................................................................................................ 15
3.10 Limitations of the study ........................................................................................................ 15
3.11 Reliability and Validity of Research Design ......................................................................... 16
3.12 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................................... 17
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................................... 18
4.0 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................... 18
4.1 STUDYPARTICIPANTS ...................................................................................................... l8
4.2 The knowledge and attitude towards oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18
to 35 years attending ANC at Lira regional referral hospital... ..................................................... 19
4.2.1 Attitude towards oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18 to 35 years ........ 19
4.2.2 Knowledge on the use of oral contraceptive among women aged between 18 to 35 years. 21
4.3 Influence of socio-cultural factors on oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18
to 35 years ..................................................................................................................................... 23
4.3.1 Influence of religion on oral contraceptive .......................................................................... 23
4.3.2 Primary purpose of marriage according to religion ............................................................. 24
4.4 Other factors that influence oral contraceptive use among women aged between 18 to 35
years .............................................................................................................................................. 24
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................................... 26
5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 26
5.1 Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 26
5.2 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 27
5.4 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 28
ABSTRACT Background: The urgent need for family planning was projected to change from 142 million in 2015 to 143 million in 2030, due to growth in the number of married or in-union women of reproductive age. Thus this study was aimed at evaluation of knowledge and use of oral contraceptives among women aged between 18 to 35 years attending ANC at LRRH. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design was used and the target population were women aged between 18 to 35 years attending ANC at LRRH. A sample size of 144 respondents were used in the study. Data was collected from respondents with help of questionnaires and interviews were conducted in case one could not understand English. Data was entered in SPSS, analysed and presented in forms of tables. Results: A greater number of patiicipants were aged 30-35 years and 18-23 years that is 62(43.1%) and 60(41.7%) respectively; many 70(48.6%) were Langi; 81(56.3%) were single; Lastly many patiicipants 51(35.4%) were of secondary level and 44(30.6) were of tertiary and college level. majority 116(80.6%) preferred using pills and only 28(!9.4%) never preferred using pills. The main reason why women preferred pills was because it is easy to use. 49(34.0%) thought pills are safe to use, 60(41.7%) never thought they are safe and 35(24.3%) didn't know. Majority 91 (63.2%) feared the side effects of pills. With many 36(25.0%) believing pills cause infertility, 20(13.9) believed it causes hormonal disturbance, 18(!2.5%) believed it causes uterine cancer and 11 (7.6%) said it causes breast cancer. Majority 101 (70.1 %) had ever stopped using pills with many 51 (50.5%) of them saying it was because of its side effects, 20(19.8%) stopped using pills because they are ineffective, and 11(18.8%) said they are difficult to use. Majority 47(32.6%) were recommended by physician to use pills. Conclusion: In conclusion, many women prefer using pills (OCs), though many women again stop using them because of their side effects such as headache, mood swings, irritability and weight gain. To start using OCs many women were recommended by physicians. Religiously, sexual intercourse and marriage is for procreation (giving birth) thus religions are against use of OCs though for families with children there no clear prohibitions against use of oral contraceptives (OCs). Identified factors affecting use of OCs were age, having history of side effects and education level.