Abstract
Cognizant of multifaceted challenge of unwanted pregnancy, Ethiopia strives to increase utiliza-tion of modern family planning across the nation. Therefore, update on the current status of family planning utilization especially in hard to reach ethnic minorities is critical. The objective of this study was to assess level, and correlates of modern contraceptive utilization in a hard to reach ethnic minorities. A community based study was conducted in Dangur District, Beneshangul Gumuz Regional State July, 2013. A total of 530 married women were included in the study. Structured questionnaire was data collection tool. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 for windows. Possible association and their strength were measured using odds ratio at 95% CI. Family planning utilization was 18.7% while nearly 27% of study participants had ever used family planning methods. The following variables were predictors of family planning utilization: number of alive children [AOR: 3.31, 95% CI (1.41 - 7.20)], good knowledge [AOR: 2.18, 95% CI (1.35 - 3.52)] and positive attitude [AOR: 1.58, 95% CI (1.03 - 2.50)]. The most outstanding finding of this study was that more than 80% of study participants still believe that many children means high income, and nearly 60% of them believe that family planning utilization decreases confidence among couples. This study witnessed how successful Ethiopia is in addressing reproductive health service inequalities in hard to reach communities. However, misconceptions surrounding family planning, and culture associated desire to have large family size should be addressed in a culture sensitive manner so that this success would further bear fruits.
Highlights
The twenty-third round of official United Nations population estimates and projections indicates that the 7.2 billion world population in mid-2013 is projected to reach 8.1 billion in 2025
The Benishangul Gumuz National Regional state (BGRS) is one of the nine Federal Constituents of Ethiopia located in the Northwest parts of Ethiopia [11]
About 60% of study participants were Muslim by religion, and nearly 90% were not able to read and write, and were farmer by occupation
Summary
The twenty-third round of official United Nations population estimates and projections indicates that the 7.2 billion world population in mid-2013 is projected to reach 8.1 billion in 2025. This figure will increase to 10.9 billion by 2100 [1]. The major segment of the projected population growth will take place in low and middle income countries of Africa and Asia [2] [3]. Being the second most populous nations of Africa [4], Ethiopia is a prototype example of nations which has been facing multitudes of challenges following rapid population growth including environmental degradation, chronic food insecurity, high maternal, and child mortality [5]. It is surprising to notice that the population of Ethiopia has doubled itself between 1980 and 2011 [6] [7]
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