THE UPTAKE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE ATTENDING MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING (MCH/FP) CLINICS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the uptake ana factors associated with the uptake of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) attending Maternal Child Health and Family Planning Clinics/Units in Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in Kenya.

DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Rift Valley Provincial hospital which is a level five health facility situated in Nakuru County, Kenya.

SUBJECTS: Women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were attending Maternal Child Health and Family Planning Clinics at the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital. The respondents were identified by systematic random sampling

RESULTS: Modern contraceptive uptake is over ninety percent (90.4, n = 218). The factors that are significantly associated with uptake of modern contraceptives are perceived convenience to use modern contraceptives (OR 0.39, CI: 0.16 - 0.93, p value- 0.04), experience of unmet needs of contraception (OR 0.08, CI: 0.03 - 0.2, p value- 0.001), history of a modern contraception discontinuation (OR 5.5, CI: 1.7 - 9.2, p value- 0.036) and knowledge of modern contraceptives (OR 19.1, CI: 12.3 - 27.5, p value-0.001). Conclusion: This study concluded that uptake of modern contraceptive is relatively high in Nakuru, Kenya and there is need for programmes to focus more on the client of modern contraceptive and the attributes of the modern contraceptives in up-scaling the uptake of modern contraceptives.