Publications

Unintended pregnancies pose significant global public health concerns, impactingindividuals, families, and society at large. Despite their efficacy, the utilization of longactingcontraceptive methods (LACMs) has lagged behind short-acting methods like oralcontraceptives and injections, and the reasons for this disparity remain unclear. This studyaimed to assess the level of LACM utilization among women attending the MCH clinic atFort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH) and to identify potential influencing factors.Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, data was collected from 52 respondents througha pretested questionnaire. Analysis conducted using IBM SPSS 25.0 revealed a meanrespondent age of 27.6±4.8 (SD) years, with a LACM prevalence of 26.9%. Factors associatedwith LACM use included maternal age ≥30 years and having four or more children(X2=11.47; p=0.001) and (X2=37.66; P=<0.001) respectively. The prevalence of LACM useamong women at FRRH's MCH clinic was notably lower (26.9%) compared to short-actingcontraceptive methods (73.1%). Notably, this study highlighted maternal age ≥30 years andparity ≥4 as significant factors linked with LACM utilization. Recommendations stemmingfrom this study advocate for strategies devised by healthcare providers and stakeholdersaimed at increasing LACM utilization, particularly among women under thirty years old andthose with a parity of three or less. Additionally, further research is suggested to delvedeeper into the reasons behind this low prevalence, fostering a more comprehensiveunderstanding of the underlying factors influencing contraceptive choices among thisdemographic.Keywords: risk factors, contraceptive, women