Magnitude and factors for method discontinuation and switching among long acting reversible contraceptive users in health facilities of Southern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) are contraceptives that prevent unplanned pregnancy in a more safer and effective way than other modern short acting methods. However, method discontinuation and switching are still challenges for utilization of LARCs in resource limited countries for several reasons. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine magnitude and factors for method discontinuation and switching among LARCs users in health facilities of Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A Facility based record review was used to collect data from May to June 2019. Three hospitals were randomly selected from five hospitals found in southern Ethiopia. A total of 1050 records were included in the study from long acting family planning registers between 2018 and 2019. Data were entered to Epi-info 3.5.4 and exported to SPSS for windows version 20 for analysis. A descriptive statistics was performed to describe factors and reasons for LARCs discontinuation and switching off. Logistic regression technique with a 95% confidence level was used to determine the association between factors and magnitude of method discontinuation and switching. RESULTS: Of the 1050, 69.8% of women discontinued long acting reversible family planning method before the recommended duration of use and 30.2% of them switched from long acting family planning methods to any other modern contraceptive methods. Women who shifted from any LARCs to short-acting family planning methods accounted for 38.8% of those who shifted to any other modern methods. Desire to get pregnant and method specific side effect were most common reasons for both method discontinuation and switching. Women with only one child were 1.61 times more likely to discontinue than women who had greater than five number of children. CONCLUSION: Discontinuation and switching of long acting reversible family planning method was high. Primiparous women were more likely to discontinue use of long acting reversible family planning methods. Re-evaluating family planning services focusing on effective counseling about side effects of LARCs methods is required. Training should also be given for family planning providers including community healthcare workers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12978-022-01357-2.