Predictors of contraceptive implant uptake in the immediate postpartum period: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate how to improve access to family planning and address unmet contraceptive need in postpartum women, by determining the predictors of contraceptive implant uptake in the immediate postpartum period.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women who had given birth up to 6 d earlier at the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital, which is part of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Participants were systematically sampled and data collected using pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed to determine associations between variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between variables and contraceptive implant uptake.

Results: The study comprised 353 women. Most (92%) were Christians and were married (74%). More than 76% had received secondary education or above; 9% were HIV-positive. Most (87%) had heard of the contraceptive implant and almost half (46%) had ever used it before their current pregnancy. Older women (p = .036), those who had reached their desired family size (p = .003), those who had planned for the current pregnancy (p = .027), those who had used the implant before (p < .001) and those who were HIV-positive (p = .001) were more likely to agree to use the contraceptive implant.

Conclusions: Older age, achievement of family size, previous use of the same method, HIV positivity and planned pregnancy positively predicted uptake of the contraceptive implant.

Keywords:

• Family planning
• immediate postpartum
• predictors
• subdermal contraceptive implant

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all the women who participated in this study, MTRH and USAID through the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) and Family Health Options Kenya for the provision of the subdermal contraceptive implants.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.