Early Discontinuation of Implanon and Its Determinants Among Women Who Ever Used Implanon: A Cross-Sectional Study in Oromia Region of Ethiopia

<i>Introduction</i>: Contraceptive utilization reduces maternal mortality and improves child survival. The reasons for ineffective practices need proper exploration. However, in the study area, information on the level of early Implanon discontinuation and contributing factors is scarce. <i>Objective</i>: To assess early Implanon discontinuation and associated factors among women seeking Implanon removal services in public health facilities in Asalla Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2021. <i>Methods and materials</i>: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 27, 2021, to April 27, 2021, among 388 Implanon user women. They were selected by using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected by a structured questionnaire using a face-to-face interviewer and entered Epi Info version 7 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Then the early Implanon discontinuation and related factors were analyzed using logistic regression. Factors that have significant association declared using p values less than 5% with 95%. <i>Results</i>: A total of 388 participants responded to the questionnaires, for a response rate of 100%. Among the users of Implanon, 318 (83.7%) discontinued treatment early. Husband educational level (primary) (adjusted OR=0.06 (95% CI: 0.01-0.56), no husband (adjusted OR=0.06 (95% CI: 0.01-0.41), women who needed to go abroad (adjusted OR, 0.09: 95% CI(0.02-0.39)), age (25-29 years) (adjusted OR=0.15 (95% CI: 0.03-0.86) and number of children (adjusted OR=0.04 (95% CI: 0.02-0.78)) were significantly associated with Implanon discontinuation. <i>Conclusion and recommendation</i>: The early Implanon discontinuation rate in this study was very high (83.7%). Having educated partner and more number of children (4-5) were more likely to continue the LARCs, while having no husband and a need to go oversea had less drive than husband objection towards early removal among the study group. The age between 25-29 years were related with more sustained use of LARCs to the expected period than those in 15-19. Effort should be made to address women's health and fertility in the programs to increase the continuation rate of Implanon use.