Modern contraceptive use among female adolescents in rural Nigeria: Does exposure to family planning messages matter? A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The world currently has the highest number of adolescents in all of history. Africa is home to quite a number of them, with most of these adolescents in Africa live in rural areas where they are more disadvantaged and their reproductive decisions could have telling impacts on their lives, family planning (contraception) has been identified as important to avoid such impacts. Factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents have been extensively researched but the importance of mass media family planning messages on modern contraceptives use among female adolescents in rural Nigeria is under-researched, hence this study. Method: This paper uses the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data with a weighted sample size (n=4473) to examine the association between exposure to family planning messages and use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents in rural Nigeria. Results: Findings indicated that exposure to family planning messages on radio and television were significantly associated with use, however, educational attainment and region of residence were other factors that influenced contraceptive use. Therefore, family planning messages through traditional media (radio and television) is associated with the use of modern contraceptives among female rural adolescents in Nigeria. Conclusion: The study concludes that family planning messages through mass media especially radio and televisions are associated with modern contraceptives use among rural adolescents. The continued use of mass media could create opportunities to achieve more results in family planning although the messages should be resident-specific and targeted to various cadres of people with consideration for the level of education to ensure efficiency of the message.