Factors associated with knowledge of the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device and attitude towards its use among women attending antenatal care at Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine contraceptive device is a highly effective, long-acting, reversible family planning method that is safe to use by most postpartum women including those who are breastfeeding. Family planning methods used mainly, the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device can tackle unintended pregnancy, short birth intervals, and pregnancy-related maternal death. Knowledge and attitude about the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device were significant predictors of subsequent method use. However, the magnitude, Knowledge, and attitude toward intrauterine contraceptive device is still low in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, limited studies were done to assess Knowledge and attitude toward the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device and their associated factors. Therefore, this study aimed to assess Knowledge, Attitudes, and associated factors toward postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess Knowledge, Attitudes, and associated factors toward postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Debre tabor town public health institutions Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS: an institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1- April–30/2021. Four hundred twenty-three participants were recruited by using a systematic random sampling technique. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pretested and structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance. RESULTS: Knowledge and attitude towards postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices were found to be 36 and 48.7% respectively. Government employee (AOR = 4.98,95%CI:2.79–8.91), student (AOR = 5.29,95%CI:1.29–21.80), urban residence (AOR = 1.9095%CI: 1.02–3.53) and ever discussed on a postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device with health care provider (AOR = 6.01,95%CI:3.70–.7.44) were associated with the knowledge about the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device. Attained secondary education (AOR = 3.22, 95%CI: 1.41–7.31), attended college and above education (AOR = 3.62, 95%CI: 1.75–7.51), government-employee (AOR = 2.76, 95CI:1.11–6.81), student (AOR = 32.10, 95%CI: 3.22–44.79), good knowledge,(AOR = 13.72, 95%CI: 6.63–28.42), ever discussed on a postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device with health care provider (AOR = 2.24,95CI:1.18–4.24), were associated with attitude toward postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: knowledge and positive attitude toward postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices were low as compared with other studies. Mothers’ employment status, residence, and discussions about a postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device with healthcare providers improve women’s knowledge about the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device. Maternal educational status, occupational status, ever discussed postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices with a health care provider and several antenatal cares follow up were improves women’s attitude towards the postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device. The finding highlights the importance of discussing postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices during pregnancy, which in turn enhances the knowledge and attitude, of mothers about postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40834-022-00202-y.