Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Uptake among the Youth in Akuse Township in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Ghana

Background: Access to safe and effective contraception is crucial for sexual and reproductive health to be at its best. This allows improved pregnancy results and the avoidance of unintended births. Teenagers’ views on using contraceptives are influenced by the information available at their disposal. The study assessed the influential factors affecting the utilization of modern contraceptives among the youth in Akuse in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods: The data for the study were gathered from 378 consented youth aged 15 - 24 years using a quantitative cross-sectional study design and a well-structured questionnaire. Person’s Chi-Square test was adopted to measure the association between the outcome variable and selected independent variables. Logistic regression models were utilized to measure the odds of the factors influencing modern contraceptive use among the respondents. Results: The results of the study suggested a high knowledge level of contraceptives;however, the prevalence of utilization was low. The level of education and age were factors found to influence the uptake of contraceptives. A bivariate analysis to examine the association between selected socio-demographic variables revealed that educational level (p = 0.044), religious affiliation (p = 0.002), and ethnicity (p = 0.016) were statistically associated with modern contraceptive use among the respondents. All other tested demographic variables including the age groups, gender, marital status, and residential status proved otherwise at the observed p-values greater than the 0.05 threshold. Respondents who indicated staying with partners were 6.79 times more likely to use contraceptives compared to their counterparts staying with a parent, after controlling for all other covariates. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that high contraceptive knowledge influences the choice of contraceptive preferred by the youth, and contraceptive use is also influenced by the advancement in age and educational level of the youth. It is however recommended that parents, guidance, and teachers be entreated to offer relevant and timely sexual information or education as these will most likely improve the uptake of modern contraceptives among the targeted population.

Trends in the Use of Reversible Modern Contraceptives in Burkina Faso between 2010 and 2015

Background: In Burkina Faso, efforts have been made between 2010 and 2015 to address the low levels of contraceptive utilization. However, the socio-cultural context in the country still reinforces traditional gender roles, low status for women, and a strong desire for larger families. The objectives of this study are twofold: 1) to analyze the trends in reversible modern contraceptive prevalence, and 2) to identify the factors influencing the use of reversible modern contraceptives, comparing the urban and rural areas. Data and Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from Burkina Faso sourced from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the 2015 Demographic and Health Module (DHM). The 2010 DHS received responses from 17,087 women aged 15 - 49 years, achieving a response rate of 98.4%. Similarly, the 2015 DHM garnered responses from 11,504 women aged 15 - 49 years, with a response rate of 96.6%. Results: Our findings revealed that while advancements were observed in urban areas, the majority of underprivileged women still faced limited access to modern contraception. Moreover, we did not observe any significant interaction effects between age and parity with the year of the survey. However, there was a slight decrease in the impact of marital status, although the difference between married and non-married women remained significant in 2015. It is noteworthy that family planning discussions and approval continued to play crucial roles. Conclusion: The initiatives to subsidize contraceptive costs and establish mobile clinics have proven inadequate in facilitating rural, impoverished, and young women’s access to modern contraception. Additional endeavors are required to enhance geographical accessibility to modern contraceptives by expanding the availability of supply sources, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, providing psychosocial support has the potential to empower women in making informed contraceptive decisions and exercising greater control over their reproductive choices.

Awareness and Factors Associated with Postpartum Modern Contraceptives Use among Women of Reproductive Age in Bukombe District, Geita Region

Introduction: Pregnancies that occur during the first year postpartum are more likely to be unplanned. This leads to an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. However, modern contraceptive use during this period helps to reduce unplanned pregnancies and its associated adverse outcomes. There is scant data on postpartum contraceptives in pastoral communities in Tanzania. This study aimed to assess awareness and factors associated with postpartum modern contraceptives use among women of reproductive age in Bukombe District, Geita Region. Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in a predominant pastoral community of Bukombe district in Geita region in north-western Tanzania from May-June 2018. A total of 511 postpartum women who were in their first year after child birth were studied. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of postpartum modern contraceptive use. Results: Most (97.3%) of the participants were aware about modern contraceptives. The prevalence of postpartum modern contraceptive use was 11.9%. The most frequent used contraceptive method was Implant 6.5%. Majority (75%) of women started to use the contraceptive at the first three months after delivery. Living in urban (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.20 - 3.79), business women’s (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.31 - 2.28), having last born aged 3 - 4 months (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.11 - 9.85) and menses resumption (AOR = 9.23, 95% CI: 3.60 - 23.72) were associated with postpartum modern contraceptive use. Fear of side effects, poor knowledge about contraceptives, husband restrictions, distance to health facility and availability of contraceptive were the barriers for use of contraceptive use. Conclusion: We found low uptake of postpartum modern contraceptive use in this population. Numerous factors were associated with modern contraceptive use. Therefore, health communication targeting this group is warranted to improve modern contraceptive uptake.

Factors Influencing the Choice between IUD and Implant among Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARCs) Users in Burkina Faso

Background: Long-acting and reversible contraceptive methods hold great potential as solutions to address the unmet need for contraception and the significant discontinuation rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Among these methods, the Implant has gained popularity in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas the utilization of Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) has remained comparatively low, particularly in Burkina Faso. This study aims to evaluate the shifts in IUD and Implant usage from 2010 to 2020 and to pinpoint the factors influencing the choice of IUDs among LARCs users in Burkina Faso. Data and Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from Burkina Faso, drawn from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the 2020 PMA Phase 1 data. The 2010 DHS garnered responses from 17,087 women aged 15 - 49, achieving a response rate of 98.4%. The 2020 PMA data collected responses from 6590 women aged 15 - 49, with a response rate of 95.8%. The final sample of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) users consisted of 1502 women, including 576 women from the 2010 survey and 926 women from the 2020 survey. Results: The study demonstrates an expansion of IUD usage to include socioeconomically disadvantaged segments among LARC users. However, higher levels of education, older age, and decisions influenced by healthcare providers are correlated with the preference for IUDs over Implants. The choice of IUDs is also connected to a comprehensive understanding of contraceptive methods, suggesting potential biases in the counseling process. Conclusion: Facilitating the broader adoption of IUDs among disadvantaged groups could be achieved by improving the accessibility of IUD products and services in rural areas. Nevertheless, there should be focused initiatives to enhance access to removal services, as this factor could dissuade specific users. Further efforts are required to train healthcare providers, aiming to mitigate biases in delivering Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). Providers should provide impartial counseling, irrespective of the selected type of LARC.

Spousal communication, fertility preference and other factors affecting contraceptive use among married couples in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Objective:To assess and compare the relationship between spousal communication,fertility preference,and other factors with contraceptive use among married couples in Ekiti State,Nigeria.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out in AdoEkiti Local Government Area of Ekiti State,Nigeria between the 12th of August 2017 and the 15th of February 2018.A pre-tested,semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 976 respondents by a multi-stage sampling technique.Data were analyzed(univariate,bivariate,and binary logistic regression analysis)using SPSS version 24.0.Factors that showed statistical significance(P<0.05)were included in a binary logistic regression to determine significant predictors of contraceptive use.Results:The proportion of respondents currently using contraceptives was 56.9%.The education status of the respondents revealed that those with primary education were more likely to use contraceptives than those without formal education[adjusted odds ratio(aOR)8.4,95%confidence interval(CI)1.97-36.2,P<0.001].Respondents with fair spousal communication were more likely to use contraceptive than those with poor communication(aOR 4.9,95%CI 2.80-8.71,P<0.001).In addition,fertility preference of 4 or less children was found to be significantly associated with contraceptive use(aOR 3.0,95%CI 1.67-5.50,P<0.001)compared to a preference of more than 4 children.Finally,the urban respondents were more likely to use contraceptives than those in the rural setting(aOR 1.7,95%CI 1.16-2.41,P=0.047).Conclusions:Educational status,residential site,spousal communication,and fertility preference significantly influence the level of contraceptive use among married couples.Couples should endeavor to discuss more on issues bordering on their fertility preference and contraceptive issue.Government should formulate policies to improve the rural uptake of contraceptives using identified target interventions.