Utilization of oral contraceptives among women aged 15-24 years attending reproductive health care at Jinja regional referral hospital. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/ywcbsb87Keywords:
Oral contraceptives, Reproductive health, Contraception, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.Abstract
Background:
Despite global improvements in contraceptive access, uptake among adolescents and young women in sub-Saharan Africa remains low, contributing to high rates of unintended pregnancies. This study determined the factors influencing the utilization of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) among women aged 15–24 years attending reproductive health services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
Methodology:
A cross-sectional study design was used, employing quantitative methods. A sample of 305 respondents was obtained through systematic sampling, and data were collected with the help of semi-structured questionnaires. The collected data was then analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and the results were presented in the form of tables and figures.
Results:
Overall, the majority of participants were teenagers, 180 (59%), 225 (73.8%) were single, while 4 (1.3%) were married. Christianity 214 (70.2%) formed the highest number of responses. Findings revealed that while awareness of OCPs was high (90%), actual utilization remained low, with 60% of respondents reporting that they had never used OCPs, although 66.9% demonstrated knowledge of OCP side effects. Community acceptability stood at 49.8%, religious support at 45.2%, and parental disapproval at 40%. Peer influence was strong (60.7%), and fear of side effects (68.9%) was the leading reason for non-use. Misconceptions persisted, with 40% believing contraceptives cause promiscuity, although most respondents (55.1%) supported youth access without parental consent.
Conclusion:
Age, education level, and perceived community support were significant predictors of OCP utilization. While knowledge about oral contraceptives exists, socio-cultural pressures, myths, and fear of side effects remain major barriers to OCP uptake among young women.
Recommendation:
Strengthening youth-friendly services, community sensitization, and targeted education interventions is recommended to enhance OCP utilization. Ensure privacy and confidentiality in service provision to encourage young women to openly discuss contraceptive needs.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Diana Kisakye, George Kalfred Masete, Hasifah Nansereko, Franscisco Ssemuwemba, Jane Frank Nalubega (Author)
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