Examining Contraceptive Ideational Disparities Among Adolescents and Young Women in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria faces a demographic challenge with a growing youth population and increasing fertility rate. However, the use of modern contraceptives among adolescent girls and young women has been declining. The young population emerges as a pivotal group in the country’s efforts to achieving the pledge of 27% modern contraceptive rate by the year 2030. This study aims to explore the disparities in contraceptive ideation among adolescents and young women in Nigeria, focusing on the role of ideational factors. The data for this study were collected through a cross-sectional household survey in four Nigerian states, involving 2,857 sexually active women aged 15-24 years. Using an ideational framework of behavior that highlights psychosocial influences, nine distinct ideational variables were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between ideational factors and contraceptive use among the total sample, adolescents, and youth. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. The study’s results revealed significant associations between the ideational variables and contraceptive use in all groups, ranging from p < .05 to p < .001. Cognitive and emotional domains were found to be the strongest predictors of contraceptive use compared to social domains in the general sample and among both groups. This study’s findings highlight the complex interplay of social, cognitive, and emotional factors in contraceptive use. Understanding these dynamics is crucial in developing effective strategies to overcome barriers and improve access to contraceptive services among young women in Nigeria. Keywords: Adolescents, Contraception, Ideation, Youth.