Factors Influencing Discontinuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Methods Among Womenin Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Long-acting reversible contraceptive discontinuation is the removal before completion of the intended lifespan of the method. Despite the improvement in utilization, discontinuation is becoming high. There is no study conducted on discontinuation and associated factors of long-acting reversible contraceptives in Bahir Dar City. The aim of this study was to assess the proportion and associated factors of discontinuation of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives among women in health facilities of Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A health facility-based cross-sectional design was conducted on 415 respondents from April 1 to May 30, 2021. A total of 11 health facilities were included and all reproductive age women who were using Long-acting reversible contraceptives came to the selected health facilities for any issue concerning the method before completion of life span of the method were included in this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interview questionnaires using a systematic random sampling method. Epi Data version 3.1 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered a statistically significant factor for discontinuation. Results The overall proportion of discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives was 66.3% (95% CI: 61.42- 69.13). No formal education (AOR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.30-0.82,P: 0.021), primary education (AOR=0.39; 95% CI: 0.18-0.81, P:0.012), wish to pregnancy (AOR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.64 to 4.02,P: <0.001), no history of contraceptive use (AOR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.19 to 3.38, P: 0.009), no counselling (AOR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.08-2.62,P: 0.021), and side effects (AOR=1.95; 95% CI: 1.21-3.16,P:0.006) were the factors associated with discontinuation. Conclusions The overall discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraceptives among women was low compared to Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016. Practice pre-insertion counselling, early side effect management, create community awareness about the methods to decrease discontinuation, healthcare providers should perform their duties in line with the standards and quality of Long-acting reversible contraceptive service provision through qualitative research are recommended.