Knowledge and associated factors of lactational amenorrhea as a contraception method among postpartum women in Aksum town, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Abstract Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of knowledge level and predictors of lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) as method of contraception among women who gave birth a year prior to the study period in the Aksum town, Tigray Region. The study was cross sectional in design conducted from March 25 to April 24, 2015. Results of the study could help the design of family planning strategies. Results The knowledge status of LAM as a contraceptive method was 8.8% [95% CI 6.4–11%)]. Women who delivered at health institution (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.3), attended postnatal care (AOR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.2–3.0) and visited home and counseled about family planning by health extension in the last 12 months, (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.3–4.0) were more likely found knowledgeable towards LAM. Secondary and above level of the maternal education was also found a significant predictor variable with LAM as a contraceptive method (AOR = 1.2 95% CI 1.1–4.0). Our findings recommend that to address the knowledge gap of mothers; improving the uptake of maternal health services and strengthening family planning counseling at home are a key area for improving the knowledge level of LAM

Predictors of postpartum contraceptive use in rural Tigray region, northern Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis

Abstract Background Postpartum family planning services is one of the recommended public health intervention aimed at reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortalities. However, there is a paucity studies in rural Tigray region. Therefore, determining the level and associated factors of contraceptive use among postpartum women has the potential to contribute in achieving the Ethiopian Health Sector Transformation Plan and to the Sustainable Development Goals on maternal and infant survival. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was done among 1109 postpartum women from March 29, 2017 to April 29, 2017. Face –to–face interview was used for data collection. The collected data were entered and cleaned using EPI - INFO version 7statistical software and later exported to and analyzed using STATA version 12. Mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to identify the individual and community-level factors associated with contraception adoption. A two side p-value< 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results The level of contraceptive use was 38.3%. Individual-level variables such as women belong to fourth (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–3.2) and fifth (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3–2.5) wealth quintiles were identified as key predictors of contraception use. In addition, partner secondary (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.8–3.5) and diploma (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–2.6) educational-level and postnatal care (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.9, 4.3) were also significantly affected contraception use. Community-level variables such as high community-level antenatal care services use (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9–4.2) and proximity of women to health facility (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.7–4.6) were also determinants of contraception uptake. Conclusions The status of contraceptive use in rural Tigray region was found to be low. It was found that both individual and community-level variables showed a marked determinant on postpartum contraception use. This study suggested that in order to increase contraceptive use the government should focus on increasing postnatal care, antenatal care services use and reduction of poverty level are important avenues for intervention