Factors Affecting The Utilization of Family Planning Services Among Women of Reproductive Age in Eldas Sub-County, Wajir County

Abstract

Wajir County in Kenya has seen a rapid increase in its population over recent decades, leading to resource shortages. Factors contributing to this include high birth rates, early marriages, unmet needs for family planning, and low levels of education. Despite efforts by the Kenyan government and other stakeholders to improve access to family planning services through policies and interventions, the county still faces challenges such as high rates of large families, irregular birth spacing, unintended pregnancies, unsafe deliveries, abortions, and maternal mortality. The objectives of this study were to establish the factors influencing the use of family planning (FP) services in Wajir County among women of childbearing age (15–49 years), with a special emphasis on the sub-county of Eldas. In particular, the research aimed to investigate the prevalence of use of FP services among women of childbearing age (15–49 years) in Eldas sub-county in Wajir County, to evaluate the social-cultural factors influencing the use of FP services amongst women of childbearing age (15–49 years) in Eldas sub-county in Wajir County, and to study the socio-economic factors affecting the use of FP services amongst women of childbearing age (ages 15–49) in the Wajir County sub-county of Eldas. The research used a cross-sectional study method. There were around 20,002 women aged between 18 and 49 years in Eldas Sub-county in Wajir County. A total of 388 households were sampled using a stratified random sampling method. Research instruments, validated for content by experts, were pre-tested in Wajir West sub-county. Ethical approval was obtained from Kenya Methodist University and the National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation, with informed consent secured from all participants. The results from this study show that less than half of the women interviewed—4%—were using a method of FP, while 95.3% were not. The findings further indicated that socio-economic factors, social-cultural factors and health system factors were the statistically significant contributors to FP utilization. It was concluded that socio-economic factors, social-cultural factors and health system factors affected family planning services in Eldas sub-county, Wajir County among women of childbearing age (15–49 years). The study recommended that programmers should ride on the low demand for FP in the area and create awareness and advocacy for long-acting FP methods. The findings indicated that most respondents relied on short-acting contraceptive methods, which are costly and less reliable over time. To address this, enhancing access to primary education across the population and implementing adult learning programs in rural areas to boost literacy levels is crucial. Moreover, involving men and engaging religious leaders in family planning initiatives at all community levels is essential. Additionally, implementing a communication campaign emphasizing spousal communication can effectively encourage discussions about family planning among couples.