Predictors of family planning usage among multiparous women in the Nkwanta-South Municipality of Ghana

Abstract Background: Family planning use is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions; averting unplanned pregnancies, reducing maternal deaths, and helps individuals and couples to decide freely and responsibly when to have children. Despite these benefits, several research findings have reported low levels of family planning usage hence the need to determine factors influencing family planning usage among multiparous women in the Nkwanta South Municipality.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using a structured questionnaire to collect data from 328 selected multiparous women living in the Nkwanta south municipality. Data were analyzed using STATA 16. Descriptive statistics were performed to determine the levels of knowledge, acceptance, and family planning usage, while multivariate analysis was done to determine the factors influencing family planning usage.Results: The findings of this study show that 318 (96.9%) of the multiparous women had already heard of family planning. Most of the respondents, 204 (62.6%) had good knowledge of family planning, however, a little above average 172 (52.4%) accepted family planning. The proportion currently using some form of family planning was 75 (22.9%), of which 31 (41.3%) were using Jadelle. Multiparous women with good knowledge of family planning were 4.5 (95% CI: 2.30-8.89) times more likely to use family planning compared to those with poor knowledge, while multiparous women with poor acceptance of family planning were 0.43 (95% CI: 0.25-0.75) times less likely to use family planning compared to those with good acceptance of family planning.Conclusions: The result of the study shows low levels of knowledge, acceptance, and usage of family planning among multiparous women. Thus, there is a need to improve health promotion activities in the municipality to increase knowledge, acceptance, and usage of family planning among multiparous women.