Abstract:
Background: Family planning service, one of the health extension package which mainly implemented at health post by health extension workers and which play major role in reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. This thesis focuses on the assessment of role of health extension workers on family planning service utilization Objective: To assess the role of health extension workers in improving utilization of family planning services in Libido/Mareko Woreda, Gurage zone Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples regional state Methods: The study used both quantitative and qualitative study methods. The quantitative method employed community based cross-sectional study design to assess role of Health extension workers in family planning services utilization in Libido/Mareko Woreda during the month of March 2013. Data for the quantitative study was collected using a structured questionnaire from a total sample size of 348 respondents. The number of women with in reproductive age group was systematically selected from 10 randomly selected kebeles and the number of households included in the study was proportionally allocated to selected kebele. For qualitative data focus group discussion was conducted in four groups with purposely selected health extension workers, health workers from health center and Woreda health office and 1to5 leaders and annual family planning service report from 1996 to 2004 Eth.c of the Woreda was also reviewed by using checklist. Data obtained was complied, analyzed and interpreted accordingly. Results: Current use of contraceptive was found to be 57.8% of which majority (77.6%) of the respondents use the injectable methods. Women who were age group 25-34(AOR= 0.334 (95 CI; 0.17-0.67)), who were married (AOR=89.22 (95 CI; 1.61-4956.04)), who were orthodox Christian (AOR=0.12 (95 CI; 0.02-0.78 )) as well as who were heard about family planning (AOR=0.14 (95 CI; 0.04-0.47)) and who were participated on family planning related activity (AOR=0. 20 (95 CI; 0.11-0.35)) were more likely to demonstrate good utilization of family Planning service. In Focus group discussion health extension workers mentioned that they have got enough support from the health center and Woreda health office. In addition, the 1to5 network leader and kebele administrators witnessed that improvements of family planning service have been observed after the arrival of the health extension workers. Conclusion and Recommendations: This study demonstrated that the roles of health extension workers were crucial for the improvement of family planning service utilization in the Woreda. The significant factors influencing family planning service utilization were age, marital status, religion, information about family planning service and participation on family planning related activity. More effort is needed from different stakeholders to strengthen the role of health extension workers on the utilization of family planning services. In addition, women’s participation in family planning related activity, access to family planning information and health education on FP could be targets for future interventions.