Prevalence of Covert Use of Contraceptives in Adama Town

Background

Reproductive health in its broader sense should be a concern of all, not just only for women it needs the attention of the entire family and the society at large. In sub Saharan Africa and in the more patriarchal ones like Ethiopia, however, decisions related to reproductive health are made by men. Improving joint decisions of couples and husbands approval of women's decisions of reproductive health, for the most part, decisions regarding family size limitation are not a simple fact.

Methods

This study was conducted with an objective of estimating prevalence of independent decisions of women on the use of contraceptives on a sample size of 578 in Adama town 100 km south of Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Currently married women aged 15-49 and a sub-sample of their husbands was the study units.

Results

The study has found out that 8.7% of currently married women use contraceptives with out the knowledge of their husband's. Almost 23% of women practiced with a complete or partial lack of knowledge of their husband. Of all the modem methods 15.7% of the covert users practice Injectables.

Conclusion

The involvement of Men in reproductive health issues should be encouraged. Also, reproductive health service providers should inflate the choices available to their clients. The lack of women autonomy is the main factor that determines clandestine use of family planning services.