Abstract: Background: Reproductive health, particularly contraceptive use is an essential component of women’s overall wellbeing, recognized as an effective method for reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, mainly among vulnerable populations such as women with mental illness. However, despite global efforts to promote reproductive rights, studies evaluating the contraceptive usage among this demographic are scarce, particularly in countries with limited resource like Rwanda. Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of contraceptive use among women with mental illness. Setting: Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Rwanda. Methods: This study was a quantitative cross-sectional study, in which employed a convenience sampling technique. Results: Of the 380 respondents aged between 18-49 years, 98.4% had heard of at least one method of contraception, with pills 95%, injectable 90.8%, and implants 71.5% being the most commonly known methods and health care providers were the main source of information 78.6%. Of the respondent 55.53% (211) reported positive attitude while 44.47% (169) reported negative attitude toward contraceptive use. Despite this high awareness and positive attitude, only 33.9% were current contraceptive users, and 58.4% had ever used a method. Multivariate analysis showed that age, marital status, and psychiatric diagnosis were independent predictors of contraceptive use (p < 0.05). Conclusion: While knowledge of contraception is high among women with mental illness, actual utilization remains low, hindered by persistent misconceptions, age, relationship status and diagnosis type. Integrating tailored reproductive health services within psychiatric care and addressing misinformation are critical to improving contraceptive uptake in this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Contraceptive, mental illness, knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP), Reproductive health.
Title: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of contraception among Women with Mental illness attending Ndera Neuro-Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Rwanda
Author: Alexis NDUWAMUNGU, Dr Jean Damascene IYAMUREMYE, Damien NSEKEYIMANA, Fidele NIZEYIMANA, Ibrahim HABANABAKIZE, Emmanuel HABIYAREMYE
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 13, Issue 2, October 2025 - March 2026
Page No: 236-246
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 10-November-2025
