ABSTRACT

Background: WHO estimated that about 75 million pregnancies worldwide are unplanned/unwanted. The rise in the number of unwanted pregnancies is significantly associated to inadequate knowledge on contraception and that more women especially in rural communities do not go for modern contraceptive methods. The aim of the study was to investigate the usage of contraceptive among women of child bearing age in the Ndongo Community. Method: A cross sectional study design was used to analyse the information using a convenient sampling method has been uses to select the 100 women who livre un thé Ndongo community during the period of research. A well-structured   questionnaire was used for data collection in a sampled population of 100 participants. Data was imputed into Microsoft 2016, analysed using the statistical package for social science version 29 and presented in tables and graphs. Results: Results from this study shows that the usage of contraceptives by the population is 65(65%) with majority of them aged 21-24, with 75(75%) being single. The prevalence of contraceptive usage by women of child bearing age 55(55%). Followed by pills which is the type of contraceptive which was highly used  35(35%). Those who had good knowledge about contraceptive usage were 70(70%) while those with poor knowledge 30(30%) and 60.70% had good attitude while 39.30% had poor attitude towards the use of contraceptive. Conclusions: These findings show that women of child bearing age had adequate knowledge about contraceptives, modern contraceptives were less practiced by the women since most of them still use traditionaliste contraceptives. Some factors that affect contraceptive usage of modern méthodes among WCBA was fear, financial contraints, side effects and partners disapproval.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

The use of contraceptives which is a major component of family planning is a key factor in health. It reduces the need for abortion by preventing unwanted pregnancies and maternal death worldwide. Contraceptive use helps women plan their pregnancies and contributes to population growth (WHO,2018).

In addition, the growing use of contraceptive around the world has enable couples choose the number of children, spacing their birth and have great lifesaving benefits (Smith et al., 2009).

Most women who do not use any contraceptive method, are more likely to get pregnant thereby increasing their risk of related maternal mortality and morbidity, unwanted pregnancies and death. These risk also directly affect the economic, political and social status of the society. 1 out of 26 women of reproductive age die due to maternal problems in Africa (Andrea et al., 2011).

Many developing countries are characterized by rapid population growth that is partly attributed to high fertility rate, high birth rates accompanied by steady declines in death rate, low contraceptive prevalence rate and high but declining mortality rate.

In Sub Saharan African, (low income countries) the rate of population growth is one of the highest in the world (2.8%) compared to the rest of the world. There still have a high fertility and high unmet needs for family planning and their populations are projected to double in the next few decades. More so, in most African countries, high fertility and rapid population growth indicates a bigger threat to achievement of Millennium Development Goals than infectious disease such as HIV/AIDS (Cleland et al.,2006).

 Meanwhile in Cameroon, findings from the 2011 national demographic and health survey states that only 16% of women of childbearing age were using modern contraceptives methods. The rate of contraceptive use was 20.9% in the North West Region of Cameroon with a prevalence of 17.7% unmet need for family planning.

In 2011, the rate of use of modern contraceptive methods among women of child bearing age in rural Cameroon was as follows: Condoms (3.6%); injectables (2.5%); oral pills (1.3%); implants (0.5%); and IUD (0.2%). IUDs, implants, oral pills and injectables are most often obtained from both private and public health facilities while condoms are easily gotten from shops and road side hawkers. Family planning services are offered by trained nurses integrated into the prenatal and postnatal packages in some facilities while in some cases, hospitals create special family planning units for the delivery of these services. (Institut National de la Statistique et ICF, 2011). Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the knowledge and attitudes of women towards the utilization of contraceptives in a local community (Ndongo) in Buea.

1.2 Problem Statement

Women who do not use any contraceptive method, are more likely to get pregnant thereby increasing their risk of related maternal mortality and morbidity, unwanted pregnancies and death. These risk also directly affect the economic, political and social status of the society. 1 out of 26 women of reproductive age die due to maternal problems in Africa (Andrea et al., 2011). In Cameroon, findings from the 2011 national demographic and health survey states that only 16% of women of child bearing age were using modern contraceptives methods. A decrease in the use of contraceptive in this community has enable couples not to determine the number of children, child spacing, and increase number of  abortion. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the prevalence and types of contraceptives used and also to assess the knowledge and attitudes of women of child bearing age in the Ndongo community towards the use of  contraceptive methods.

1.3 Rationale

The reasons for this study was to assess women knowledge on the uses of contraceptive, the type of contraceptive best for them to used and the beliefs these women have towards contraceptive use.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the prevalence and types of contraceptives used by women of child bearing age in the Ndongo Community
2. What knowledge and attitude do women have toward the use of contraceptive methods in the Ndongo Community?

1.5 Objectives

1.5.1 General objectives

To assess the knowledge and attitudes of women towards the utilization of contraceptive methods in the Ndongo community.

1.5.2 Specific objectives

1. To determine the Prevalence and types of Contraceptives Used by Women of Child Bearing age in the Ndongo community.
2. To Assess the knowledge and Attitudes of Women on contraceptives in the Ndongo community.