Factors influencing contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in plantation farming communities in South-South Nigeria.

Abstract

The use of contraceptives by women of reproductive age remains one of the cost-effective ways of reducing maternal, infant, and child mortality and achieving a decline in the high fertility rate in the country. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between the location of residence, occupation, and education level and the current use of contraceptives among women of reproductive age resident in plantation farming communities in South-south Nigeria. The test of associations between the dependent and independent variables and covariates was conducted using the Likelihood ratio Chi-square as appropriate. Multiple logistic regressions using the best-fit option of covariate selection were done with the use of contraceptives as the dependent variable. Of the 609 participants recruited, 189 (31.03%) were currently using a contraceptive. Women with secondary education were less likely to use contraceptives compared to the none educated [AOR=0.07; CL: 0.013-0.39]. Location and age were also significant predictors of the use of contraceptives by women in plantation farming communities in Nigeria. Deliberate and purposeful targeting of women and girls of reproductive age in plantation farming communities should be prioritized in the universal access to contraceptive use.