International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences Fundamentals, Vol. 13, Issue 01, April 2017 www.ijpbsf.com (An Indexed, Referred and Impact Factor Journal) ISSN: 2278-3997 IJPBSF WWW.IJPBSF.COM 1 Modern Contraceptive Methods Utilization and Associated Factors among Women with Disabilities in Mekelle Town, Tigray, Ethiopia Kellali Tsegay 1 , Hadush Gebremariam 2 and Fisseha Haile 3 1 Kellali Tsegay, Adolescent and Youth Expert, Tigray Region, Integrated Family Health Program, Tigray, Ethiopia kellalitsegay@yahoo.com 2 Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Adigrat University, Adigrat, Ethiopia hadushgm@gmail.com 3 Department of Public Health, College of Health Science Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia fisaha.1999@yahoo.com Publishing Date: April 05, 2017 Abstract Background: Access to modern contraceptive methods for women with different disabilities is very crucial. In Ethiopia, though the number of women with disabilities is increasing, little is known about their family planning needs. Therefore, the study was conducted to determine the magnitude and associated factors of modern contraceptive methods utilization among women aged 15-49 years living with physical, visual or hearing disability in the Mekelle town. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among a total of 539 women living with disabilities in 2013. Study subjects were selected using a systematic random sampling. Data were entered to Epi-info version 6, and then exported to SPSS version 21. Multi-variable analysis was used to assess the independent effect of selected independent variables on the outcome variable. Results: The median age of the participants was 35 years. Half of the respondents (50.9%) were aged 35years and above. The magnitude of modern contraceptive methods utilization was 27.2% (95%CI: 23% -31.0%). The dominant method used was injectable (93.2%), followed by oral pills (6.1%) and implants (0.7%). On multi-variable analysis Married women (AOR=18.37, 95%CI: 10.38- 32.50), presence of nearby health facility (AOR=4.04, 95%CI: 2.05- 7.93), and participants trust on the health facility on confidentiality (AOR= 2.26, 95%CI: 1.12-4.57) were positively associated with contraceptive use. Conclusions: The magnitude of modern contraceptive methods use was low. Lack of confidence on the providers with regard to keeping privacy and confidentiality; poor family planning access due to distance from their residence were the barrier to modern contraceptive use. Therefore, a focus should be given on addressing the barriers and reassuring women with disabilities to increase the uptake of modern contraceptive methods. Keywords: Women with Disability, Contraception, Ethiopia. 1. Introduction The magnitude of disabilities is increasing worldwide. Nearly about one billion people have some sort of disabilities in the world. The majority of disabled population is found in the developing countries and more than half are females (1). Women with disability are vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy and other reproductive health problems due to poor access to modern contraceptive methods (2, 3). All women with disability should have the right of family planning utilization (4). However, women with disabilities lack comprehensive knowledge about the methods of family planning and the utilization rate is low. These women have difficulty of access to health facility and transportation. Moreover, the service providers rarely discuss with them their reproductive health needs (1, 5, 6). In Ethiopia the issue of reproductive health needs, particularly family planning, in women with disabilities is not explicitly addressed and documented. So far little is known about family planning utilization related problems of the women with disabilities (7). Therefore, it is essential to assess the magnitude of modern contraceptive methods use and its barriers among women with disabilities. The finding is essential