Contraceptive prevalence and factors associated with its use among women of child bearing age in Amai Community of Ukwani Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: The use of contraceptives is essential for family planning in terms of child spacing. Its use is a cost‑effective public health measure for reducing maternal deaths due to unintended and high‑risk pregnancies. In other words, it improves reproductive health, and gender equity among women in developing countries as well improves maternal health by lowering cases of unwanted pregnancies. This study objective was to determine the prevalence of contraceptive use, types and factors associated with its use among women of child-bearing age.

Materials and Methods: This study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 299 respondents using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Inferential statistic (Chi-square) was done at 0.05 significant level. Results were presented in tables.

Results: The prevalence of contraceptive practice was 49.8%. Condoms (10.4%), injectables (16.7%), implants (16.4%), pills (29.8%) and withdrawal method (26.8%) were the identified contraceptive methods used by respondents. Of all these methods, pills were the most used. This study indicates that there is an association between socio-demographic variables and the practice of contraceptives (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Approximately half of the women in the study (49.8%) were contraceptive users. Contraceptive use education targeting adolescents and younger women (15-19 years) should be intensified and health authorities should ensure consistent availability of a broad range of contraceptive methods, particularly pills, condoms, implants, and injectables, which were prominent methods in this study.