scholarly journals Coverage and Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Use in Sub-saharan Africa: Further Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys

Author(s):  
Isaac Boadu

Abstract Background: The use of modern contraceptives (MC) in most African countries has been low despite the high fertility rate and unmet need for family planning. This study sought to determine the coverage and determinants of modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: Data for the study was obtained from the latest Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 1995-2020 across 37 SSA countries. Women of reproductive age (15-19 years) was the unit of analysis. Analyses of data was done using STATA version 16 for windows. A bivariate Rao Scott’s chi-square test of independence was done to determine factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives. Factors that showed significance (p<0.05) were included in a multilevel logistic regression to determine significant predictors of modern contraceptives. Clustering, stratification and sample weighting were accounted for in the analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of the use of MC was found to be 22.0%. This ranged from 3.5% in the Central Africa Republic to 49.7% in Namibia. The most common type of contraceptives used were injections (39.4%), condoms (17.5%) and implants (26.5%). Women were less likely to use contraceptive if they: had no education (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.38-0.44), had no children (aOR=0.27-0.42), not told of family planning at a health facility (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.67-0.71), not heard of family planning in the media (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.74-0.79) and being poor (aOR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.73-0.79). On the other hand, women were more likely to use modern contraceptive if they were between the age of 35-39 years (aOR=1.69, 95%CI: 0.73-0.79), married (aOR=2.66, 95%CI: 2.50-2.83), had seven or more children (aOR=1.27, 95%CI:1.17-0.38), had knowledge of any method of contraceptives (aOR=303.8, 95%CI: 89.9-1027.5) and when field worker visited and talked about family planning (aOR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.39-0.68).Conclusion: The study showed a low prevalence of modern contraceptive use in Sub-Sahara Africa. Findings from the study highlight the need to provide education to women to increase uptake of contraceptive use and also re-enforce contraceptive interventions to improve women’s health and well-being.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah

Abstract Background The use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains an issue that needs urgent attention. This present study assesses the individual and contextual factors associated with modern contraceptive use among AGYW in SSA. Methods Data for this study was obtained from the latest Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between January 2010 and December 2018 across 29 countries in SSA. Data were analysed with Stata version 14.2 by employing both Pearson’s chi-square test of independence and a multilevel binary logistic regression. The selection of variables for the multilevel models was based on their statistical significance at the chi-square test at a p < 0.05. Model fitness for the multilevel models was checked using the log likelihood ratios and Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) and the results were presented using adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results It was found that 24.7% of AGYW in SSA use modern contraceptives. In terms of the individual level factors, the study showed that AGYW aged 15–19 [aOR = 0.86, CI = 0.83–0.90], those who were married [aOR = 0.83, CI = 0.79–0.87], Muslims [aOR = 0.59, CI = 0.57–0.62], working [aOR = 0.92, CI = 0.89–0.95], those who had no child [aOR = 0.44, CI = 0.42–0.47], those who had no exposure to newspaper/magazine [aOR = 0.44, CI = 0.63–0.71] and radio [aOR = 0.82, CI = 0.78–0.86] had lower odds of using modern contraceptives. Conversely, the use of modern contraceptives was high among AGYW whose age at first sex was 15–19 years [aOR = 1.20, CI = 1.12–1.28]. With the contextual factors, the odds of using modern contraceptives was low among AGYW who lived in rural areas [aOR = 0.89, CI = 0.85–0.93] and in communities with low literacy level [aOR = 0.73, CI = 0.70–0.77] and low socio-economic status [aOR = 0.69, CI = 0.65–0.73]. Conclusion Several individual and contextual factors are associated with modern contraceptive use among AGYW in SSA. Therefore, Governments in the various countries considered in this study should intensify mass education on the use of modern contraceptives. This education should be more centered on AGYW who are in socio-economically disadvantaged communities, those who are not married, Muslims, those with high parity and high fertility preferences and those who are working.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Million Phiri ◽  
Clifford Odimegwu ◽  
Chester Kalinda

Abstract Background: Closing the gap of unmet needs for family planning (FP) in sub-Saharan Africa remains critical in improving maternal and child health outcomes. Determining the prevalence of unmet needs for family planning among married women in the reproductive age is vital for designing effective sexual reproductive health interventions and programmes. Here, we use nationally representative data drawn from sub-Saharan countries to estimate and examine heterogeneity of unmet needs for family planning among currently married women of reproductive age. Methods: This study used secondary data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2020 from 37 countries in sub-Saharan African. An Inverse Heterogeneity model (IVhet) in MetaXL application was used to estimate country and sub-regional level pooled estimates and confidence intervals of unmet needs for FP in SSA. Results: The overall prevalence of unmet need for family planning among married women of reproductive age in the sub-region for the period under study was 22.9% (95% CI: 20.9–25.0). The prevalence varied across countries from 10% (95% CI: 10–11%) in Zimbabwe to 38% (95% CI: 35–40) and 38 (95% CI: 37–39) (I2 = 99.8% and p-value < 0.0001) in Sao Tome and Principe and Angola, respectively. Unmet needs due to limiting ranged from 6%; (95% CI: 3–9) in Central Africa to 9%; (95% CI: 8–11) in East Africa. On the other hand, the prevalence of unmet needs due to spacing was highest in Central Africa (Prev: 18; 95% CI: 16–21) and lowest in Southern Africa (Prev: 12%; 95% CI: 8–16). Our study indicates that there was no publication bias because the Luis Furuya-Kanamori index (0.79) was within the symmetry range of -1 and +1. Conclusion: The prevalence of unmet need for FP remains high in sub-Saharan Africa suggesting the need for health policymakers to consider re-evaluating the current SRH policies and programmes with the view of redesigning the present successful strategies to address the problem.


2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie H. Hernandez ◽  
Saleh Babazadeh ◽  
Philip A. Anglewicz ◽  
Pierre Z. Akilimali

Abstract Background Male partner’s approval is a key determinant of contraceptive use for women living in Sub-Saharan Africa and improving men’s support and couple communication is a cornerstone of family planning programs. However, approval is often only measured through the women’s perception of their partner’s opinion. Methods This study conducted in Kinshasa compares contraceptive approval variables from matched male and female partners (n = 252 couples) to establish the frequency of (in)accurate perceptions by the woman, then test their association with modern contraceptive use. Additional regressions estimate individual and couple variables associated with (in)correct perceptions. Results Results confirm women are poorly aware of their partner’s opinion but indicate that perceived approval or disapproval by the woman is a much stronger determinant of modern contraceptive use than her partner’s actual opinion. Higher educational achievement from the woman is the strongest driver of misunderstanding her partner’s approval. Conclusions Women’s perceptions of partner’s approval are much stronger determinant of contraceptive use than the latter’s actual opinion, and stereotyping men’s opinion of family planning is a common error of appreciation. However, findings also suggest these misunderstandings might serve women’s capacity to negotiate contraceptive use.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie H. Hernandez ◽  
Saleh Babazadeh ◽  
Philip Anglewicz ◽  
Pierre Z Akilimali

Abstract Background: Male partner’s approval is a key determinant of contraceptive use for women living in Sub-Saharan Africa and improving men’s support and couple communication is a cornerstone of family planning programs. However, approval is often only measured through the women’s perception of their partner’s opinion.Methods: This study conducted in Kinshasa compares contraceptive approval variables from matched male and female partners to establish the frequency of (in)accurate perceptions by the woman, then test their association with modern contraceptive use. Additional regressions estimate individual and couple variables associated with (in)correct perceptions. Results: Results confirm women are poorly aware of their partner’s opinion but indicate that perceived approval or disapproval by the woman is a much stronger determinant of modern contraceptive use than her partner’s actual opinion. Higher educational achievement from the woman is the strongest driver of misunderstanding her partner’s approval. Conclusions: Women’s perceptions of partner’s approval are much stronger determinant of contraceptive use than the latter’s actual opinion, and stereotyping men’s opinion of family planning is a common error of appreciation. However, findings also suggest these misunderstandings might serve women’s capacity to negotiate contraceptive use.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0258844
Author(s):  
Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa ◽  
Zemenu Tadesse Tessema ◽  
James Boadu Frimpong ◽  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah

Background Evidence suggests that in countries with high fertility and fecundity rates, such as Nigeria, the promotion of modern contraceptive use prevents approximately 32% and 10% of maternal and child mortality, respectively. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the spatial distribution of modern contraceptive use and its predictors among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional analysis of population-based data involving 24,281 women of reproductive age in Nigeria. The study adopted both multilevel and spatial analyses to identify the predictors of modern contraceptive use and its spatial clustering among women in Nigeria. Results Modern contraceptive use among the study population in Nigeria ranged from 0% to 75%, with regional variations. The spatial analysis showed that areas with a low proportion of modern contraceptive use were Sokoto, Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba and Delta. Areas with a high proportion of modern contraceptive use were Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Federal capital territory, Plateau, Adamawa, Imo, and Bayelsa. The multilevel analysis revealed that at the individual level, women with secondary/higher education, women from the Yoruba ethnic group, those who had four children and above, and those exposed to mass media had higher odds of using modern contraceptives. On the other hand, women who were 35 years and above, those who were married, and women who were practicing Islam were less likely to use modern contraceptives. At the household/community level, women from the richest households, those residing in communities with medium knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, and women residing in communities with a high literacy level were more likely to use modern contraceptives. Conclusion There were major variations in the use of modern contraception across various regions in Nigeria. As a result, areas with low contraceptive rates should be given the most deserving attention by promoting contraceptive education and use as well as considering significant factors at the individual and household/community levels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 80
Author(s):  
Saleh Babazadeh ◽  
Julie Hearnandez ◽  
Philip Anglewicz ◽  
Jane Bertrand

Background: Spatial access has a direct effect on health service utilization in many settings. Distance to health facility has proven to affect family planning (FP) service use in many Sub-Saharan countries. Studies show that women who reside closer to facilities offering family planning services are more likely to use modern contraceptives. However, researchers often test the theory of distance decay. This study analyzed the significance of proximity to family planning services, service availability, and quality of family planning services on modern contraceptive use in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods: We used a pool of four rounds of facility- and population-based survey data in Kinshasa from PMA2020 between 2014 and 2016. We used GPS coordinates to calculate the distance between the health facilities and households. We tested if women who live closer to service delivery points with higher level of availability and quality are more likely to use modern contraceptives or less likely to have unmet need for contraceptive services. Results: 10,968 women were interviewed over four rounds of data collection. Our findings show that living closer to an SDP is not a determinant of modern contraceptive use or having unmet need for FP services. Lack of cognitive access, economic barriers, bypassing the closest facility, and sociocultural norms are strong barriers for women in Kinshasa to use modern contraceptives. Proximity to quality services did not necessarily result in increased FP use among women of reproductive age living in Kinshasa, thus suggesting that a bypass phenomenon may occur when obtaining modern contraceptive services. Conclusions: This study notes that barriers other than proximity to access may be substantial determinants of contraceptive use or unmet need. More research should be conducted that directly measures multidimensional components of access in order to interpret women’s contraceptive seeking behaviors in urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh Babazadeh ◽  
Julie Hernandez ◽  
Philip Anglewicz ◽  
Jane T Bertrand

Abstract Background: Spatial access has a direct effect on health service utilization in many settings. While, all elements of access are usually affected by service delivery points and client characteristics. Distance to facility has proven to affect family planning service use in many Sub-Saharan countries. Studies show that women who reside closer to facilities offering family planning services are more likely to use modern contraceptives. However, researchers often test the theory of distance decay to observe any association between an increased distance of health facilities and health service utilization. This study to analyze the significance of proximity to family planning services, as well as service availability and quality of family planning services in Kinshasa. Method: We used a pool of four rounds of facility- and population-based survey data in Kinshasa. We tested if women who live closer to service delivery points with higher level of availability and quality are more likely to use modern contraceptives or less likely to have unmet need for contraceptive services. Results: Our findings show that living closer to an SDP is not a determinant of modern contraceptive use or having unmet need for FP services. Discussion: Lack of cognitive access, economic barriers, bypassing the closest facility, and sociocultural norms are among the strong barriers for women in Kinshasa to use modern contraceptives. Our analysis shows that proximity to quality services does not necessarily result in increased FP use among women of reproductive age living in Kinshasa, thus suggesting that a bypass phenomenon may occur when obtaining modern contraceptive services. Conclusion: This study indicates that proximity to facilities does not necessarily equate proximity to methods, nor does it necessarily enable current users or women with an unmet need (potential contraceptive users) to easily obtain services for their method of choice. This study notes that other barriers to access may be substantial determinants of contraceptive use or unmet need. More research should be conducted that directly measures multidimensional components of access in order to interpret women’s contraceptive seeking behaviors in urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Agbadi ◽  
Eunice Tagoe ◽  
Agyemang Florence Akosua ◽  
Seth Owusu

Background: Variations in the effect of predictors of Sierra Leone women’s use of modern contraceptive from one community to another is unknown. The identified gap was addressed using multilevel logistic regression models.Methods: Pooled 2008 and 2013 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Surveys datasets were used. Single level logistic regression analyses were conducted on 24,032 women, and multilevel logistic regression models were performed on 23,329 women. Statistical significance was pegged at p≤0.01 and p≤0.05.Results: About 22.1% of the reproductive age women ever used a modern contraceptive. The best-fitted model indicated that the effects of individual, household, and geo-residential level factors on the use of modern contraceptives among Sierra Leone Women vary from one community to another. The woman’s age, marital status, educational qualification, listening to the radio, recent sexual activity, household wealth, place of residence, and region of residence were the statistically significant predictors of modern contraceptive use among reproductive-age Sierra Leone women.Conclusion: The study provided in-depth insight into the significant factors that account for the variability in women use of contraceptives in Sierra Leone. The study underscored the need for community-based intervention programs to address the low use of modern contraceptives among Sierra Leone women.


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