Is maternal health services utilization predict the contraceptives adoption in extended postpartum period: A community-based cross-sectional study done in urban slums of Western Gujarat

Abstract

Background:Family planning (FP) programme has been integrated since long with MCH programme in order to reduce maternal and child mortality. The period of pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal period is very crucial to sensitize the women to adopt contraceptive practice because during this time they are in constant contact with health provider and more receptive to advice. The present study is designed in this context to see whether the utilization of maternal health services have any impact on adoption of modern contraceptives in extended postpartum period.Materials and Methods:Community-based cross-sectional study was done in urban slum of Jamnagar, Gujarat, for 1 year in 2016. Two-stage sampling methodology was used; in first stage, 30 Anganwadi centres (AWC) was chosen by systemic random sampling and in second stage from each AWC, 8 women in extended postpartum period were included. Study included total 240 women. Sampling was done at household level. Descriptive statistics for sociodemographic factors and reproductive characteristics were done. Chi-square test was used to find association between different variables.Result:Prevalence of using modern contraceptive was only 24.6%. The most preferred choice was barrier method (35.5%), followed by sterilization (27.1%), Intrauterine device (IUD) (25.04%), and OCP (12%). Around 57% women had taken ≥4 health center visit during their last pregnancy and 7.5% had never visited or consulted. 12% women were delivered at home. Majority of the participants (63.5%) were not paid visit by health worker, only 15% were provided with adequate postnatal visit and 21% had inadequate visit during their immediate postpartum period. A statistical association was found between usage of contraceptive with health center visit during ANC, postnatal visit by HW, parity and age of women in extended postpartum period.Conclusion:There is need to improve the quality of maternal health services to increase the utilization of FP services.