Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Use of Postpartum Intrauterine Contraceptive Among Women Attending Mulago National Refeeral Hospital Antenatal Clinic.

Abstract

Background: In Uganda, the use of IUCD postnatally is still very low and almost non-existent in most Ugandan facilities. PPIUCD is only offered in a few urban centers and the unmet need for postpartum contraceptive use account for 80% prevalence (2013). Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the uptake of post-partum intrauterine contraceptive device as a family planning method at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Objectives of the study: This research was to assess the knowledge, attitude and preventive practices of towards uptake of IUCD postnatal mothers attending Mulago Hospital. Method: A cross sectional study was carried out in Mulago Hospital in. The study was carried out on postnatal mothers who attend Mulago Hospital ANC and were willing to participate in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used in the study. A total of 246 respondents were interviewed. Descriptive Univariate and then bivariate analyses were used in SPSS and frequency table and graphs were generated. Presentation of results: Information on socio-demographic characteristics such as age, level of education, religion, number of children and others were presented in tables, showing frequencies and percentages. Postnatal mother’s knowledge and attitude were presented in both tables and graph putting across the different frequencies for the different respective questions asked. The most commonly mentioned preventive practices of the postnatal mother’s uptake of IUCD presented in graphs. Discussion of results: The knowledge about uptake of IUCD among postnatal mothers attending Mulago Hospital ANC is very low although most of them had attained secondary level of education. Most of the mothers didn’t know about IUCD and those knew a little weren’t confident about effects and benefits of IUCD. The mother’s attitude towards uptake of IUCD is negative and unfavorable for the childbirth control method during the postnatal period. Conclusions: A lot of awareness through sensitization measure is needed to correct the various misinterpretations concerning uptake of PPIUCD among postnatal mothers attending Mulago Hospital ANC in order to improve the mother’s attitude and knowledge on uptake of PPIUCD.