| dc.description.abstract | Introduction and Background: Dual Family Planning is the correct and consistent use of two or more contraceptive methods that is condoms in conjunction with another method(s) by the HIV positive people to prevent transmission of infections and re-infections of HIV/STI and unwanted pregnancy. Northern Uganda has the highest HIV infection rate of 8.2% compared to a national average of 7.3% in 2011 (UDHS) and with very low utilization of family planning methods among the married people with no evidence regarding HIV positive couples utilizing dual FP.
Objective: This study was conducted to assess factors influencing uptake of dual family planning methods among HIV positive couples in Awach health centre IV, Gulu district.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using both qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the client factors, community factors and institutional factors influencing the uptake of dual family planning methods. The investigator used structured questionnaires which were administered to 264 respondents attending ART clinic at Awach health centre IV. We carried out 7 key informant interviews to collect information from the
ART Clinic staff and expert Clients using key informant guides. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS soft ware version 16.0 and presented in form of tables, pie charts, graphs at univariate and bivariate levels. Qualitative data was analysed manually presented in verbatim quotations.
The results: This study showed 70.45% of the respondents had heard about dual family planning while 27.55% have not heard, of the 70.45% clients, only 38.6% were practicing dual FP method while the rest of the clients were not using dual method and the most used Family Planning methods was condoms, followed by injectables 24.24% and the least being permanent method 3.79%. At bivariate analysis, the clients’ related factors that were significant are, age (P-value<0.000), sex (P-value<0.025), religion (P-value<0.030), duration with partner (P-value<0.000), number of children (P-value<0.044) and the desire to have children (P-value<0.000). Among the community factors the following significantly influenced the use of dual FP; those who had heard about dual FP (P-value<0.000), partners’ acceptance (P-value<0.000), method of FP used (P-value<0.000), duration of usage (P- value<0.000) and sources of information (P-value<0.000). The following institutional factors also influence the use of dual FP; distance to the facility (P-value<0.035), getting FP services
from same place (P-value<0.006) and getting FP on return date (P-value<0.006).
Conclusions: The low uptake of dual FP method by HIV positive couples was significantly influence by their age, sex, religion, the duration they spent with their partners, number of children they desired, the duration of FP usage, sources of information, method of FP used, distance from the facility, accessibility and the availability of the dual FP services.
Recommendations: The health facility staff, the local leaders and the government should join hands to ensure that emphasis is put on the age of client, sex of client, religion, duration spent with partner, number of children desired, partners’ acceptance, duration of FP usage, sources of information, methods of FP used, distance to health facility, accessibility and availability of dual FP services in order to increase the uptake of dual FP services among the
HIV positive couples in Awach ART Clinic. | en_US |
