Abstract:
Background: Demand for family planning is affected by factors such as poor provider client
relationships and pressure to have children. A great number of women in the world with an
unmet need for family planning comprise women who are HIV positive and those at risk of HIV.
In developing countries the provision of family planning services at voluntary counseling and
testing settings is low. There is lack of information on demand for family planning and
associated factors among women voluntary counseling and testing clients in the study area.
Objective: To assess demand for family planning among women voluntary counseling and
testing clients in Dawuro zone, South West Ethiopia, in 2015.
Methods: The study was conducted by using mainly quantitative method supplemented by
qualitative study method. Facility based cross sectional survey was conducted from February 20
to March 20, 2015. A total of 401 respondents were included in the study. Consecutive sampling
technique was used to select samples. The data were also cleaned and checked for completeness
and then entered in to EPI data 3.1 software and exported to SPSS 16.0 soft ware for analysis.
Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed. Statistical significance was
declared at a value of p < 0.05. Ethical clearance was taken from Jimma University and informed
verbal consent was established with the participants before the interview.
Result: A total of 401 respondents participated in the study making a response rate of 98.5%.
Demand for family planning among women voluntary counseling and testing clients was 71.5%
in the study area. Marital status AOR= 0.17 95% CI; (0.04, 0.67), income level AOR= 2.44 95%
CI; (1.34, 4.45) and live birth AOR= 3.27 95% CI; (1.35, 7.92) were significant predictors of
demand for family planning.
Conclusions and recommendations: The finding showed that majority of women voluntary
counseling and testing clients had demand for family planning. Factors affecting demand for
family planning and unmet need are related to the clients (women) and providers (health system).
Hence providing family planning services continuously at VCT settings is recommended.
