Comparative study of the characteristics of family planning service users and non-users in northwest Ethiopia

Three hundred and forty-four (49.6%) family planning users and 350 (50.4%) non-family planning users were included in a study to assess the factors that are associated with utilisation of family planning services at different levels of health institutions in northwest Ethiopia. Desire for (more) children was the most common reason (51.4%) for not using family planning services, followed by inadequate knowledge about family planning services (14.6%). A higher proportion of the non-users were illiterate, of lower parity, and had their last child under one year of age (P<0.05). In logistics regression analysis family planning was significantly lower in the illiterate. Positive husband's attitude had the strongest association (OR 9.3, 95% CI 4.6, 18.7) with family planning. In addition to programs that create demand for smaller well-spaced children, IEC and family planning services should target men and strong emphasis should be given to use of family planning methods in as early period after birth as possible.