PATTERN AND CORRELATES OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE USE AMONG HIGH FERTILITY WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria with total fertility rate of 5.5 is among High Fertility (HF) countries world-wide. High fertility women are susceptible to pregnancy related risks including increased maternal morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of use of Modem Contraceptives (MC) among high fertility women in Nigeria is very low and studies on it have not been well documented. This study was therefore conducted to determine the pattern and correlates of MC use among HF women in Nigeria. The study was based on 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Data on 3654 women of childbearing age (15-49 years) was extracted with data collection guide. The data were weighted before use because cluster sampling method was adopted during its collection. The dependent variable was current use of any MC (No method=0, Traditional method=1, MC method=2) and the independent variables were demographic and socio-economic factors. High fertility women in the context of this study means women who already have ≥4 living children. The expectation is that such women should begin to prevent further childbearing having reached the stipulated number of children a couple should have as recommended by the Nigeria Population Policy, 1988. Women who were pregnant, menopausal, not having sex in the past one month before the survey were excluded from the data sample. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression model at p=0.05. Age of the women was 39.2±6.2 years, prevalence of MC used was 17.2% and higher in urban (28.5%) than rural (11.5%) area. lnjectables (7.2%) and IUD (3.5%) constituted the highest prevalence of MC use. The proportion of women who used any MC was least among women without formal education (4.1%) and women living in the North Eastern Nigeria (3.9%). The MC use was higher among the Christians (28.7%) than Muslims (7.6%) religious groups. The propo1tion of women who use MC increased consistently from 3.0% among those in poorest to 37.3% of those in the richest wealth quintile. Women who were exposed lo Family Planning Media (FPM) messages (radio/television/newspaper) had significantly higher MC prevalence (26.9%) than women who were not exposed (9.4%). The identified predictors of MC are: age, religion, ethnicity, wealth quintile, partner's educational level, working status, and FPM. Women living in North East were significantly less likely (OR=0.338, C.I=0.167-0.686) to use MC than their counterparts in the South West. The likelihood of MC use was significantly higher among lgbo (OR=3.73, C.I=1.62-8.56) and Yoruba (OR=5.92, C.1=2.70-12.95) than Hausa. Also, being in the highest wealth quintile promotes the use of MC (OR=2.01: C.I=1.02-3.99) than women in the poorest wealth quintile. The use of modem contraceptives method is low among high fertility women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Information that will promote the use of modem contraceptive should be spread across the regions and target poor women in Nigeria.