Abstract:
Background: Family Planning (FP) and related issues are often highly sensitive and the positive progress depends on multiple factors that include availability of contraceptives, demand, access and quality of FP information and services, political and financial commitment, availability and use of reliable data on FP. In Rwanda and in different other developing countries, the associated factors with stock out of FP program are not well documented. Methods: This was asecondary data analysis; descriptive cross-sectional and analytical study which assessed factors associated with the stock out of modern contraceptives in Rwandan health facilities for the period of December 2014. Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors statistically associated with stock-out of modern contraceptives. Results were considered significant at 95% CI, with p-value of 0.05. Results: The survey was conducted in 174 health facilities, including 130 health centers, 40 district hospitals and 4 referral hospitals. Stock out of FPcommodities on the day of surveywas observed in 27.6% of health facilities (48); while within the last six months, it was observed in 44.3% of health facilities (77). None of the assumed factors was associated with stock-outon the day of the survey, while the level of health facility was associated with stock-out within six months prior to the survey (p=0.026).Health Centers were the most stocked out compared to District Hospitals and Referral Hospitals. Conclusion: The prevalence of stock out of FP commodities in Rwanda was generally low compared to other countries in the region, but there is still more to do in order to decrease the unmet need of FP due to unavailability of the methods when needed. Good practices like availability of trained staff to provide FP services and regular monitoring and supervision should be kept to ensure the compliance with policies and guidelines in place; thus right-based quality services to the clients. No contraceptive should miss at the health facility as per service package requirement, regardless of the low/no client demand.
