November 13, 2017

Does proximity of women to facilities with better choice of contraceptives affect their contraceptive utilization in rural Ethiopia?

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Authors: Solomon Shiferaw, Mark Spigt, Assefa Seme, Ayanaw Amogne, Stein Skrøvseth, Selamawit Desta, Scott Radloff, Amy Tsui, Dinant GeertJan

Journal: PLoS ONE, 13(1). November 2017

This study found a linkage between contraceptive use, the range of methods available, and level of contraceptive stock at health facilities in rural Ethiopia based on data collected from Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020). Researchers found that the percentage of rural married women who use modern contraceptives decreased as distance from the nearest service delivery point offering family planning services increased. 

Researchers used data from the first round of data collection (January to March 2014) to analyze the use of contraception method for married women in rural Ethiopia based on the distance to nearby health facilities, range of contraceptives available in facilities, household wealth index, and the women’s demographic characteristics. The article highlights key findings, including:

  • The main sources of modern contraceptive methods for married rural women were health posts (48.8%) and health centers (39.0%). The mean number of the types of contraceptive methods offered by hospitals, health centers and health posts were 6.2, 5.4, and 3.7 respectively.
  • Modern contraceptive use (mCPR) among rural married women was 27.3%.
  • The percentage of rural married women who use modern contraceptives decreased as distance from the nearest service delivery point increased.
    • 41.2% of women living less than 2 kilometers away used modern contraceptives, 27.5% of women living 2 to 3.9 kilometers away used modern contraceptives, 22.0%, of women living 4 to 5.9 kilometers away used modern contraceptives and 22.6% of women living 6 or more kilometers away used modern contraceptives.
    • Women who live close to facilities that offer a wider range of contraceptive methods were significantly more likely to use modern contraceptives.
    • The mCPR ranged from 42.3% among women who live within 2 kilometers of facilities offering 3 or more methods to 22.5% among women living more than 6 kilometers away from the nearest facility with the same number (3 or more methods) available.

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