TIME TO INITIATE POSTPARTUM MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE GROUP WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF DELIVERYIN DILLA TOWN, SOUTH ETHIOPIA 2020 G.C: (A RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW UP STUDY)

Abstract Background: Postpartum family planning is defined as the prevention of unintended pregnancy and closely spaced pregnancies through the first 12 months of childbirth. Globally over 9 out of 10 women want to avoid pregnancies after having birth, but 1 in 7 women aren't using family planning as a result, larger numbers of women get pregnancy within 7- 9 months of childbirth. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use and associated factors among women of reproductive age group within the first 12 months of delivery in Della town, south Ethiopia 2020 G.C. Methods: Community based retrospective follow up study from March 25, 2019 up to March 25, 2020 G.C was conducted in Dilla town. Systimatic sampling technique was used to select 594 study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered questionnaire and entered by EPI data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Kaplan Meier survival curve together with log-rank test used to estimate the time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine factors associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use at 95% CI with P-value of < 0.05. Result: A total 576 postpartum women were participated making a response rate of 96.9%. The median time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use was 7 months (IQR: 6, 8). Primary education [AHR=3.01 (95% CI=1.32, 6.83)], Decide jointely with partner on family planning use [AHR=8.85 (95% CI=5.00, 15.6)], Menses resumption [AHR=9.24 (95% CI=4.95, 17.2)], good knowledge on family planning [AHR=1.56(95% CI=1.20, 2.02)], travel < Half hour to health facility [AHR=1.75, (95% CI=1.05, 2.92)], having ≥4 antnatal care vists [AHR=2.47(95% CI=1.17, 5.19)] and family planning counseling during postnatal care [AHR=2.22 (95% CI=1.46, 3.38)] were factors positively associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive. Conculsion: The time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use was delayed than world health organization recomendation. Factors positively associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use were: Education level of women, Decide jointly with partner on family planning use, Menses resumption, Knowledge on family planning, Number of antnatal care vists, distance to health facility and Family planning counseling during postnatal care.