Perception on use of contraceptives among households’ heads in low-income families in Kuresoi North Sub-County, Nakuru county, Kenya

Abstract

Family planning is widely acknowledged as an important intervention towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) as it has proven to reduce maternal and child mortality. Family planning has also been found to promote gender equality as well as educational and economic empowerment for women and men. Despite the enormous benefits of family planning services, the uptake of these services among men in Kuresoi North Sub-county still remains low in. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception on the use of contraceptives among households’ heads in low-income households of Kuresoi North Sub-County in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was carried out in Kamara and Sirikwa wards in Kuresoi North Sub County. The study used planned behaviour and social radical feminism theories. It employed cross-sectional survey research design. The study population was 251 households’ heads in low income households. Simple random sampling procedure was used to obtain a sample size of 143 respondents. Data was collected using interview schedule and semi-structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis. Findings of the study were presented using quotes, narratives, pie-charts, bar graphs and frequency tables. From the study findings, 75% of the respondents obtained information on the use contraceptives through social workers in health care facilities and friends. The findings indicated that 65% of respondents used condoms, making it most popular contraceptive among various types of contraceptives available. About 70% of respondents agreed that partners in stable relationships preferred to know their HIV status, and this would determine their use or non-use of a condom. The use of long term contraceptives such as hormonal contraceptives exposed women to sexually transmitted diseases. From the findings concludes that having knowledge of contraceptives and their benefits does not necessarily lead to favourable perception towards their use. This study recommends that policy makers should deal with the attitudes and perception on the use of contraceptives based on gender differences. This will improve the use of contraceptives in low income households.