Analysis of the Prevalence of the Preferred Methods of Contraception During the COVID 19 Lockdown in Uganda: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Study

Abstract
In 2020 limitations to family planning information, access and utilization were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, globally incapacitating various channels to family planning information, access and, utilization. This study sought to analyze the prevalence of the preferred methods of contraception during the COVID 19 lockdown in Uganda using multinomial logistic regression. Method Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate, logistic, and multinomial logistic regression models from the post-intervention telehealth cross-sectional survey. Results Out of the 244 women surveyed, more than three quarters (80%) used their preferred methods of family planning, while almost half of the participants (46%) used the Short-Acting Methods as a preferred method of Family planning. The logistic regression showed that older-aged participants, fear of security personnel, and fear that my spouse will know that the partner is using family planning as their biggest challenge plus participants who agreed that they won’t continue using family planning after the lockdown were less likely to use the preferred method of family planning. However, participants whose biggest challenge to accessing family planning information, and utilization was lack of money, those who received an extremely adequate number of messages during the intervention, and those who were already using family planning before the intervention were more likely to use their preferred method of family planning. From the multinomial model, participants whose biggest challenges in accessing family planning services during the lockdown were fear of unwanted pregnancy, and fear if implant expires in her body were relatively more likely to use Long-term Acting Reversible Contraceptives than Short-Acting Contraceptives as their preferred method of Family Planning. While participants who were relatively less likely to use LARC compared to SAC were those already using family planning before the start of the intervention. Conclusions We recommend prioritizing family planning information, access and utilization as one of the essential services during the lockdown, with more emphasis on an intervention that addresses age-specific needs and partner privacy issues. Addressing the use of LARC among women who are already using contraceptives is equally paramount in cases of lockdown and health facility closures
Description
Keywords
COVID-19, Lockdown, Contraception, Uganda
Citation
Sseninde, J., Kabagenyi, A., Kyadondo, B., Nyachwo, E., Kiragga, A., & Wasswa, R. (2021). Analysis of the Prevalence of the Preferred Methods of Contraception During the COVID 19 Lockdown in Uganda: A Multinomial Logistic Regression Study. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-635015/v1