Institutional, Cultural And Socio-Economic Barriers To Women’s Contraceptive Use In Butula Sub-County, Busia County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The government of Kenya has put in place various strategies and policies to increase the uptake of family planning services and also increase the mean age at first marriage as a step towards reducing the fertility rate. This is the cornerstone of reducing poverty and improving the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite these policy measures, the Total Fertility Rates (TFR) of some regions still remains high above the country’s rate of 3.9, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) (2014). Western region had the highest percentage of facilities offering modern methods of contraception at 93, but still the TFR remained high at 4.7. This is the region where Butula sub-County is found and largely contributes to these high fertility rates. Busia County experiences stalled fertility decline though it hosts a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that promotes the use of family planning methods, and boasts girl-child education. Therefore the main objective of this study was to examine the level of contraceptives utilization among women in Butula sub-County. To realize this objective a descriptive survey design was adopted in which 161 women aged 15 to 49 residing in Butula sub-County were targeted for the study. The study was guided by Bongaarts (1978) model that examines proximate determinants of fertility. Simple random sampling technique was used to identify the study respondents. Study data was collected by use of questionnaire method as well as Focus Group Discussions (FGD). FGD targeted men and women of reproductive age, religious leaders and health care professionals within the study area. To ascertain validity of data collection instruments, a pilot study was undertaken before administering the instruments to respondents and feedback from the pilot study informed the researcher to refine the instruments. Reliability of data collection instruments was ascertained through the use of test-retest method where Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient was computed and found to be reliable. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the process of data analysis. Descriptive statistics which included frequencies and percentages were used to summarize and describe the study data. Inferential statistics used in the study included regression analysis, ANOVA, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Chi-Square. These were used to establish independence of scores and associations between and among study variables. All statistical measurements were computed at 95% confidence level. Findings of the study revealed that institutional factors have a statistically significant influence on women’s contraceptives use in Butula sub-County. It was also revealed that there was statistically significant negative effect of cultural barriers on women’s contraceptives use in Butula sub-County. The study further found a statistically significant correlation between socio-economic barriers and women’s contraceptives use in Butula sub-County and that unmet need for family planning had a significantly negative effect on utilization of family planning among women in Butula sub-County. The study concluded that institutional, socio-economic, cultural barriers and unmet need in family planning have influenced women’s contraceptives use in Butula sub-County. Findings of this study have stretched the frontiers of knowledge regarding what the government and other stakeholders need to do in terms of policy formulation and implementation to curb challenges associated with utilization of contraceptives by women in Butula sub-County and beyond.