Determinants of intention to use contraceptives in the postpartum period among first time mothers in Nairobi, Kenya

Dainah W. Kariuki, Makerere University
James Ntozi, Makerere University
Gideon Rutaremwa, Makerere University

The unmet need for postpartum family planning (PPFP) during the first year after delivery in Kenya is unacceptably high at 68 percent. This exposes the postpartum mothers to high risk of unwanted and unintended pregnancies. The risk is even greater among the first time mothers who do not know what to expect after their first delivery. This paper presents the analysis of determinants of intention to use contraceptives in postpartum period among first time mothers in Nairobi. A cross-sectional study of 204 first time mothers in Pumwani maternity hospital, Nairobi was done in 2010. Using binary logistic regression model, it was found that education and marital status were predictors of these women’s intentions to uptake contraceptives after delivery. Family planning programmes should give high priority to the first time mothers in order to encourage them uptake contraceptives as early as possible during their postpartum period.