Determinants of utilization of post-partum family planning services among refugee women of reproductive age in Hagadera camp, Dadaab refugee complex, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) uptake remains persistently low in sub-Saharan Africa. All the while, there is limited information on how expectant women arrive at their decisions to embrace it. This paper examines the utilization of PPFP among refugee women, to understand the gaps in why a large majority do not utilize the services.

Objective: Investigating the determinants of utilization of post-partum family planning services among refugee women of reproductive age living in Hagadera Refugee Camp.

Design: Community-based cross-sectional survey design Participants: The target population comprised of postpartum refugee women who had a delivery within the past six months in Hagadera Refugee Camp, Kenya.

Results: The number of study participants was 385. Knowledge of family planning methods was high, with 75% (n=288) of participants affirming awareness of Family Planning methods. Almost three-quarters of the women (74%) indicated non-utilization of any modern FP methods in the past five years. On PPFP decision-making, 77% of the participants attributed this responsibility to their spouse or husband. Women who sought Antenatal Care services were significantly more likely to seek PPFP services (p<0.05). The barriers to PPFP uptake among refugee women involved a complex interplay of religious beliefs, spousal dynamics, and cultural norms.

Conclusion: While awareness of PPFP is relatively high, other factors such as seeking ANC services, delivering at a hospital, and receiving spousal support in PPFP decisions play more substantial roles in influencing the likelihood of adopting PPFP services among women in Hagadera Refugee Camp.