Background: Long-acting and permanent contraceptive methods (LAPMs) are the most effective approaches to reduce fertility. The study of factors associated with the use of LAPMs is one of the key steps in finding the population involved in reduced fertility.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess factors affecting the use of LAPMs among married women of reproductive age in Torbat Heydariyeh city, East of Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 304 married women aged 15 - 49 years in Torbat Heydarieh in 2016. Data were collected using demographic and fertility questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS 13 by descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis.
Results: The current overall prevalence of using LAPMs was 21.4%. The multivariate analysis showed that utilization of LAMPs was less frequent among the participants with diploma (AOR = 0.357, 95% CI = 0.156 - 0.817) and academic education (AOR = 0.418, 95% CI = 0.174 - 1.003) compared to women who had primary and secondary education. However, the utilization of LAPMs was more frequent in those with high income level (AOR = 8.364, 95% CI = 3.994-17.511) and those with higher number of living children (AOR = 2.247, 95% CI = 1.585-3.187).
Conclusions: The persistent use of LAPMs is largely determined by education and income level and the number of surviving children. Reproductive health programmers can consider this group of women for interventions aiming at improving the fertility rate.