Abstract

More than one in five hundred women die of pregnancy or pregnancy related causes which are preventable through
proper utilization of family planning services. Among married women, 34.3% have an unmet need for family planning
and yet are in need of limiting and spacing their children. The aim of the study was to determine Factors Influencing
Utilization of Family Planning Services among Married Women (15-49 Years) In Kitwe Town Council, Ntungamo
District. A cross sectional descriptive study design that employed quantitative methods of data collection was used.
100 women were enrolled in the study using convenient sampling method. A researcher administered questionnaire
was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by Microsoft office excel and calculator. From the study, factors
that influenced utilization of family planning services included; knowledge of women about family planning, social
factors such as religion, myths people have about family planning and husband’s approval. Health facility factors
influencing family planning utilization included, distance of the place of residence from the health facility, availability
of the contraceptives, negative attitudes of health workers and long waiting hours at the health facility. Health
service providers should be encouraged to improve on their attitude towards women when offering family planning
services. Ministry of health should ensure that they increase the number of health workers providing family planning
services so as to prevent women wanting family planning services from waiting for long at the health facility. People
in charge of ordering for family planning methods at the health facilities should ensure that proper estimation of the
methods needed in a particular period are made such that stock outs are avoided.