Time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use and predictors among women of reproductive age group in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Globally 1 in 7 women aren’t using family planning as a result, larger numbers of women get pregnant within 7–9 months of childbirth. The aim of this study was to estimate the time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use and predictors among women of reproductive age group within the first 12 months of delivery in Della Town, Southern, Ethiopia. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study from March 25, 2019, to March 25, 2020, was conducted in Dilla town. A Systematic sampling technique was used to select 594 study participants. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine factors associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use at 95% CI with a P-value of < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 576 postpartum women were participated making a response rate of 96.9%. The median time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use was 7 months (IQR: 6, 8). Education [AHR = 3.01 (95% CI = 1.32, 6.83)], knowledge on family planning [AHR = 1.56(95% CI = 1.20, 2.02)], and family planning counseling during postnatal care [AHR = 2.22 (95% CI = 1.46, 3.38)] were predictors positively associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive. CONCLUSIONS: The time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use was delayed longer than compared to the World Health Organization recommendation. Education level of women, knowledge of family planning, and family planning counseling during postnatal care were some predictors positively associated with time to initiate postpartum modern contraceptive use.