Factors Influencing Use of Family Planning Methods among Couples in Shankoe Sub- Location, Transmara West Sub-County, Narok County

Background: Although knowledge of contraceptive methods among sexually active men and women is high globally and in sub-Saharan Africa, the contraceptive prevalence rate among newly married Women aged 15-49 years in Kenya is estimated at 39%, compared to 14% in Shankoe sub-Location in Trans Mara West sub-County, Narok County.

Objective: To assess the factors influencing utilization of family planning methods in Shankoe Sub-Location, Trans Mara West Sub-County, Narok County.

Design: Community-based cross- sectional study.

Study Setting: Three villages of Shankoe Sub-Location namely Olempogit, Emorogi and Enayenyieny Subjects / Participants: Three hundred and sixty respondents (149 males and 211 females) aged 15 years and above in Shankoe Sub-Location, Trans Mara West Sub-County, Narok County.

Results: Those respondents aged 25-35 years in reference to > 50 years were more likely to use family planning methods (OR =0.97, 95% CI [0.43-2.20] p=0.002) than those participants who had ≥ 50 years of age (OR =0.33, 95% CI [0.10-1.03] p=0.057) who were less likely to use family planning methods. Respondents aged 25-35 years had secondary education and understood  more on family planning methods than age bracket ≥ 50 years whose members had not gone to school (OR =1, 95% CI [0.19-5.20] p=0.001) compared to participants with no education (OR =0.19, 95% CI [0.03-1.34] p=0.098).