TY - JOUR
T1 - Modern contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women in Ghana
T2 - Prevalence, predictors, and policy implications
AU - Beson, Paul
AU - Appiah, Richard
AU - Adomah-Afari, Augustine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).
PY - 2018/9/25
Y1 - 2018/9/25
N2 - Background: Modern contraceptive use remains an important public health intervention and a cost-effective strategy to reduce maternal mortality, avert unintended pregnancies and to control population explosion, especially in developing countries. Despite these benefits, there are reports of low usage among reproductive-aged women in most developing countries. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of use of modern contraceptive among reproductive-aged women in an urban center with a high density population in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was conducted with 217 randomly selected reproductive-aged women. Data was analyzed with STATA. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing modern contraceptive use. Results: Although we found high levels of knowledge and awareness (98%; n = 213) of modern contraception use, only 21% of participants were using modern contraceptives. Marital status, partner consent and support, and religious beliefs strongly predicted usage. Conclusion: Usage of modern contraceptives among reproductive-aged women in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality is lower than the national target. A multilevel family planning intervention program that primarily focuses on promoting inclusive participation of husbands, targets the unmarried and non-literates reproductive-aged women, and dispels misconceptions, misinformation and religious myths about modern contraceptives has been discussed.
AB - Background: Modern contraceptive use remains an important public health intervention and a cost-effective strategy to reduce maternal mortality, avert unintended pregnancies and to control population explosion, especially in developing countries. Despite these benefits, there are reports of low usage among reproductive-aged women in most developing countries. This study examined the prevalence and predictors of use of modern contraceptive among reproductive-aged women in an urban center with a high density population in Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was conducted with 217 randomly selected reproductive-aged women. Data was analyzed with STATA. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors influencing modern contraceptive use. Results: Although we found high levels of knowledge and awareness (98%; n = 213) of modern contraception use, only 21% of participants were using modern contraceptives. Marital status, partner consent and support, and religious beliefs strongly predicted usage. Conclusion: Usage of modern contraceptives among reproductive-aged women in the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipality is lower than the national target. A multilevel family planning intervention program that primarily focuses on promoting inclusive participation of husbands, targets the unmarried and non-literates reproductive-aged women, and dispels misconceptions, misinformation and religious myths about modern contraceptives has been discussed.
KW - Ghana
KW - Modern contraceptives
KW - Predictors
KW - Prevalence
KW - Reproductive-aged women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054012184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12905-018-0649-2
DO - 10.1186/s12905-018-0649-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 30253759
AN - SCOPUS:85054012184
SN - 1472-6874
VL - 18
JO - BMC Women's Health
JF - BMC Women's Health
IS - 1
M1 - 157
ER -