Immediate postpartum family planning utilization and associated factors among postpartum mothers in South Ethiopia

Approximately one-third of maternal deaths worldwide are attributed to unsafe contraceptive practices, a major contributor to maternal mortality. In Ethiopia, immediate postpartum family planning services are not yet widely used. Only 9% of postpartum women use immediate postpartum family planning. Additionally, there was insufficient information regarding the utilization of immediate postpartum family planning in the study area.

The objective was to assess immediate postpartum family planning utilization and associated factors among mothers attending childbirth at a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia.

A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 402 postpartum women from 1 June to 30 July 2023, using a systematic random sampling technique. Training was provided to data collectors, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire that had been pretested and revised as necessary. The collected data were entered into EpiData 4.6. The data were exported into the software SPSS Version 26 for data cleaning and further analysis. Factors associated with the utilization of immediate postpartum family planning were declared by odds by 95% CI and P < 0.05.

This study involved 393 postpartum mothers, yielding a response rate of 97.76%. As identified from this study, utilization of immediate postpartum family planning was 24.9% (95% CI: 20.6, 29.2) in the study area. Planned pregnancy [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.10-3.13], Postpartum mothers who had five and above children (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.70-12.88), counseled about family planning before delivery (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.03-3.10), and intention of postpartum mothers to space their pregnancy (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.50-9.52) identified associated factors.

The utilization of immediate post-partum family planning is low in the study area. Planned pregnancy, the greater number of children, prior information about family planning, and intention to space births during reproductive age were factors significantly associated with the utilization of family planning. Health workers should provide strengthening advice and counseling about family planning, from antenatal care follow-up to the postpartum period. Furthermore, the collaboration of health extension workers provides awareness for the community.