Impact of Family Planning Stockouts On Users in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

Abstract

Family planning stock out remains a critical issue in enhancing reproductive health and promoting the overall well-being of families in Kenya. Many studies have associated FP stock out with supply, procurement, and management issues. While many studies focus on studying the impact of FP stock out on women users, there are limited studies examining the impact of stock out of preferred FP methods on users both men and women. A proportional random sample of 279 respondents from Chuka County Referral Hospital, Kaanwa Health Centre and Magutuni Hospital in Tharaka Nithi County was obtained to provide information on FP stock out. Data coding, cleaning, and analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0. Results were presented in tables and graphs. Fifty-seven percent of respondents reported having experienced FP stock out. Most respondents (73.1%) preferred seeking FP services from public health facilities while 40% and 33% preferred IUD and implants as their FP methods, respectively. However, stock out of these preferred methods resulted in use of alternative methods or seeking the preferred method from alternative sources. Financial burden, unplanned pregnancy, family conflict, and use of non-preferred methods were the main impacts of FP stock out among the respondents. The County government of Tharaka Nithi through the Ministry of Health should adopt intervention measures that will promote supply of various methods of FP in public health facilities to meet the FP needs of the patients attending these facilities.