title: Factors associated with contraceptive use in Tigray, North Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family planning interventions are cost-effective and have several cross-cutting benefits. Despite these benefits of family planning, progress in ensuring universal access to family planning to women in developing countries has been slow. In light of this; this study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1966 women of reproductive age group (15-49) in 13 districts (3 urban and 10 rural) from May-June 2015. Multistage sampling technique was employed to approach the study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Multiple variable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effect of independent variables on utilization of contraceptive use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of total 1966 women, 1879 (95.6%) have ever heard about family planning. Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA) was the most popular contractive method as mentioned by 1757 (93.5%) of the participants. The overall contraceptive prevalence rate among all women was 623 (35.6%) while the contraceptive prevalence rate among married women was 543 (41.0%). Seven-in-ten women had ever used short acting contraceptive. In fact Depo-Provera was the most common type of contraceptive used as mentioned by 402 (64.5%) of the women. The odds of using family planning by married women living in urban areas was two times more than their counterparts (AOR = 2.0, 95% of CI: 1.33, 3.06). Similarly, the odds of using family planning among mothers with primary education was 1.3 times more as compared with no education (AOR = 1.3, 95% of CI: 1.02,1.93). However, as regards to long acting contraceptive methods, the odds of using long acting contraceptive methods use among married women in urban areas was 50% less when compared to rural married women (AOR = 0.5, 95% of CI: 0.3, 0.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contraceptive prevalence rate in Tigray region increased almost four fold in just 15 years. However, the increase is not yet enough to meet national and global targets. Further interventions are needed to narrow disparities in contraceptive use among different population groups and increase long acting contraceptive users. Moreover, improving quality of family planning in terms of the content of information provided to clients is crucial.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Ethiopia. arayaabrha@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Araya Abrha
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Medhanyie
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Alem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desta
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mussie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alemayehu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tesfay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gebrehiwot
authors.affiliation: UNFPA Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tesfu Alemu
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Abraha
authors.affiliation: Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Atakelti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abrha
authors.affiliation: Tigray Regional Health Bureau, Mekelle, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Hagos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Godefay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female
keywords: Contraceptive use; Developing countries; Ethiopia; Family planning; Health extension workers; Long acting contraceptive methods