Utilization of female sterilization among women aged 18-49 years, in Tigoni sub-county hospital, Kiambu county

Abstract

Achieving the desired family size is not a difficult decision to make for a couple, female sterilization is not always the first choice of family planning to many couples. The purpose of study was to identify factors that determine the utilization of female sterilization among women aged 18-49 years in Mch/Fp Clinic, Tigoni sub-county hospital, In Kiambu County. Tigoni Sub-County statistics and trend shows the utilization of female sterilization is low compared to the other methods of contraception. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted among 310 women randomly selected from Mch/Fp Clinic, Tigoni Sub- county Hospital. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study whereby quantitative methods of data collection was used. Data was collected using structured questionnaire, and quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Relationships between variables were tested using chi-square test and logistic regression and a p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. There was significant statistical association between age and utilization of female sterilization (P=0.042) at 95% confidence interval. The study concluded that age and occupation had positive effect on utilization of Female sterilization. The factors with low and poor female sterilization use were: low level of knowledge about female sterilization; including lack of awareness on facilities providing female sterilization services, low literacy levels and extremes of parity with desire for more children. Others factors include religious prohibition and lack of spousal consent. In order to enhance the uptake of female sterilization as a bold step towards meeting the challenges envisaged in the Kenya's Vision 2030 and the realization of the SDGs, it is recommended that; sustainable education activities be established as early as possible for the clients including during the ante-natal period and also continuous medical education (CPd) sessions for the health care providers.