Prevalence Of Contraceptive Use Research Articles

Preference-aligned fertility management among married adolescent girls in Northern Nigeria: assessing a new measure of contraceptive autonomy.

Universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare-including family planning (FP)-is a global priority, yet there is no standard outcome measure to evaluate rights-based FP programme performance at the regional, national or global levels. We collected a modified version of preference-aligned fertility management (PFM), a newly proposed rights-based FP outcome measure which we operationalised as concordance between an individual's desired and actual current contraceptive use. We also constructed a modified version (satisfaction-adjusted PFM) that reclassified current contraceptive users who wanted to use contraception but who were dissatisfied with their method as not having PFM. Our analysis used data collected 3.5 months after contraceptive method initiation within an ongoing prospective cohort of married adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in Northern Nigeria. We described and compared prevalence of contraceptive use and PFM in this population. Ninety-seven per cent (n=1020/1056) of respondents were practising PFM 3.5 months after initiating modern contraception, while 93% (n=986/1056) were practising satisfaction-adjusted PFM. Among participants not practising satisfaction-adjusted PFM (n=70), most were using contraception but did not want to be (n=30/70, 43%) or wanted to use contraception but were dissatisfied with their method (n=34/70, 49%), while the remaining 9% (n=6/70) wanted but were not currently using contraception. PFM captured meaningful discordance between contraceptive use desires and behaviours in this cohort of married Nigerian adolescent girls. Observed discordance in both directions provides actionable insights for intervention. PFM is a promising rights-focused FP outcome measure that warrants future field-testing in programmatic and population-based research.

Assessing Trends in Women's Reproductive Health and Family Planning in Haryana: Insights from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5

Women's reproductive health is a crucial aspect of public health that impacts overall societal well-being and economic stability. In Haryana, India, addressing this issue involves confronting deeply ingrained societal norms and enhancing women's autonomy in health-related decisions. Utilising data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports of NFHS-4 (2015–16) and NFHS-5 (2019–21), this study evaluates the reproductive health and family planning issues among women aged 15–49 in the region. The research specifically focuses on analysing key indicators, including the total fertility rate (TFR), the impact of educational attainment on TFR, fertility preferences, birth intervals, the desired number of children, child sex preferences, and the prevalence of contraceptive use. The findings reveal significant trends and variations in these indicators, offering a comprehensive understanding of women's reproductive health in Haryana. The study tracks progress by comparing data from the NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 reports and identifying persistent gaps and areas that require attention. The insights provided by this analysis are critical for policymakers, healthcare providers, and non-governmental organisations striving to enhance reproductive health services and promote women's rights in Haryana. The study emphasises the necessity for targeted interventions that address societal attitudes and provide educational opportunities to improve family planning and reproductive health outcomes. Keywords: fertility rate, reproductive health, family planning, contraceptive prevalence, birth interval, sex preferences.

Contraceptive knowledge, prevalence of contraception use, and the association between sex education and contraception knowledge among university students in Michigan, USA

ABSTRACT Background: The danger of sexual activities among adolescents is worrisome worldwide. This study aimed to delineate total contraception knowledge of university students and the prevalence of contraceptive use, in addition to the association between sex education in school and the students’ contraception knowledge. Materials and Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Results: The mean total level of contraceptive knowledge was 16.53 ± 2.38, which ranged from 5 to 18. In response to which method was the most suitable for the youngsters, 36.3% responded pills, 49.2% condoms, 6.3% injection, 0.7% withdrawal, 0.5% periodic abstinence, and 5.9% other. Adjusted to sociodemographic characteristics and other confounders, students with a history of sex education in school tended to have a higher level of contraceptive knowledge than those without [AOR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.15, 2.64]. Moreover, adjusted to the characteristics of one-night stands, students with a high level of contraceptive knowledge agreed that one-night stands were OK compared with those without the knowledge [AOR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.16, 1.13]. Conclusion: Although the total contraceptive knowledge was satisfactory, more attention should be paid to male students’ education. Modern and long-term effective contraceptive methods had better be included in the training program.

Association between knowledge and use of contraceptive among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa.

The use of contraceptives has been considered relevant in reducing unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, despite evidence of knowledge of contraceptives, their use remains low in SSA. This study examined the association between knowledge of contraceptive methods and the use of contraceptives in SSA. Data for the study were extracted from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 21countries in SSA spanning from 2015 to 2021. A weighted sample of 200,498 sexually active women of reproductive age were included in the final analysis. We presented the results on the utilization of contraceptives using percentages with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). We examined the association between knowledge of contraceptive methods and the use of contraceptives using multilevel binary logistic regression analysis. Overall, 24.32% (95% CI: 24.15-24.50) of women in SSA used contraceptives. Chad had the lowest prevalence of contraceptive use (5.07%) while Zimbabwe had the highest prevalence (66.81%). The odds of using any method of contraception were significantly higher for women with medium [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.80-1.98] and high [AOR = 2.22; 95% CI = 2.10-2.33] knowledge of contraceptive methods compared to those with low knowledge, after adjusting for all covariates. Our study has shown that the use of contraceptives among women in SSA is low. Women's knowledge of any contraception method increases their likelihood of using contraceptives in SSA. To improve contraceptive use in SSA, targeted interventions and programmes should increase awareness creation and sensitization, which can improve women's knowledge on methods of contraception. Also, programmes implemented to address the low uptake of contraceptives should consider the factors identified in this study. In addition, specific subregional strategies could be implemented to narrow the subregional disparities.

Social context of contraceptive use transition among sexually active women in Zambia (1992-2018): A decomposition analysis.

Contraception is an important public health initiative for addressing maternal health outcomes associated with unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions and maternal deaths. Although contraceptive use has been on the rise globally, the observed increases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are sub-optimal and vary among countries. In Zambia, drivers of contraceptive use transition are not well documented. Thus, this study examined the drivers of contraceptive use change among sexually active women in Zambia between 1992 and 2018. Data came from the six Zambia Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1992 and 2018. A sample of 44,762 fecund sexually active women aged 15-49 years was analysed using multivariable Blinder Oaxaca decomposition regression analysis. Analysis took into account the complex survey design. Results were presented using adjusted coefficients, their 95% confidence intervals, and percentages. The prevalence of contraceptive use among sexually active women increased significantly by 30.8 percentage points from 14.2% (95% CI: 12.8, 15.6) to 45.0% (95% CI: 43.6, 46.4) during the period 1992 to 2018. The major share of the increase happened during the period 1992-1996 (10.2%) while the least increase occurred between 2013 and 2018 (0.2%). Overall, about 15% of the increase in the prevalence of contraceptive use was attributable to changes in the compositional characteristics of women. On the other hand, 85% of the increase was due to change in contraceptive behaviour of sexually active women. Changes in women's compositional characteristics such as secondary education (5.84%), fertility preference (5.63%), number of living children (3.30%) and experience of child mortality (7.68%) were associated with the increase in contraceptive use prevalence. Change in contraceptive behaviour of sexually active women contributed largely to the observed increase in contraceptive use prevalence in Zambia. Increase in the proportion of women attaining secondary education, decrease in the percentage of women who want large families and improvement in child survival were the major compositional factors driving the rise in contraceptive use. The findings imply that increasing investment in education sector and enhancing existing family planning programmes has the potential to further improve contraceptive use prevalence in Zambia.

IJCM_14A: Contraceptive use and its determinents among women in field practice area of rural health and training center of tertiary care hospital -a Cross-Sectional study

Background: In reproductive health services contraceptive prevalence rate serves as a proxy measure and is an indicator of health, population, development, and women’s empowerment which is essential for meeting many of Sustainable Development Goals, especially child mortality and maternal related goals. There is increase the use of contraceptive methods in rural area which is influenced by various factors. Objectives: 1) To estimate the prevalence of use of contraception among reproductive age women in rural area 2) To examine the determinants of contraceptive used of reproductive age women. Methodology: This is community based cross sectional study among reproductive age women in field practice area of rural health training center. The sample size was calculated as 208 using 67 percentage prevalence of contraceptive prevalence rate according to NFHS 5 data at 95% confidence interval and 6% error. The study were conducted using prevalidated and pretested questionnaire on sociodemographic variables. The data was analysed using SPSS trial version. Univariate analysis is done and binary logistic regression is applied p value Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use was 73.1%. Most commonly used methods among study participant was condom followed by intra uterine device and oral contraceptive pills. In the adjusted analysis of binary logistic regression, contraceptives use was significantly lower (OR=0.21,95%CI=0.07-0.26, P=0.001) upon respondent age 36-49years compaired to those aged 15-35 years. Contraceptive use was significantly lower among migrants (OR=0.34;95%CI=0.13-0.48; p=0.03) compared with non-migrant. Conclusion: The contraceptive prevalence was found to be higher in this study population and multiple factors were influencing the contraception use. In addition, family planning programs should target migrants to increase use of contraception in rural areas.

Prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use among sexually active adolescent girls in 25 sub-Saharan African countries.

Various countries in sub-Saharan Africa have taken divergent steps toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal's target of universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services by 2030, particularly among sexually active adolescent girls who are at risk of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. However, because contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents remains unexplored in sub-Saharan Africa, the researchers intended to examine the prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use among adolescent girls who had been sexually active in the previous four weeks. Cross-sectional data from the most recent demographic and health surveys of 25 sub-Saharan African countries on 16,442 sexually active adolescent girls were analyzed. In the analyses, descriptive statistics and multivariate binary logistic regression were used. Analyses were statistically significant at p<0.05. The overall prevalence of contraceptive use was 25.4%. Chad had the lowest prevalence (4%), while Namibia had the highest (60.5%). Over 90% of the countries studied had less than 50% contraceptive use among sexually active adolescent girls. Adolescent girls withhigher education were eight times more likely than those with no formal education to use contraception (aOR = 7.97, 95% Cl = 6.26-9.45). When compared to single adolescent girls, married adolescent girls were 66% less likely to use contraceptives (aOR = 0.34, 95% Cl = 0.31-0.36). Adolescent girls with two or more children were seven times more likely than those without a child to use contraceptives (aOR = 6.91, 95% Cl = 5.58-8.56). It is established that there exists a low prevalence of contraceptive use among adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa. As countries in the sub-region strive for universal access to reproductive health services, it is critical for the governments and civil societies in countries with low contraceptive use to strengthen mass education on the use of contraception among sexually active adolescents, with special emphasis on the less educated, married, and adolescent girls from poor households.

Enhancing Contraceptive Utilization among Females of Reproductive Age: Factors, Challenges, and Strategies at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital

The research aimed to assess the factors influencing the utilization of contraceptives among females of reproductive age seeking health services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Specifically, it sought to establish socio-demographic characteristics, examine health service factors affecting contraceptive utilization, and determine its prevalence. A cross-sectional and descriptive research design employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was utilized to ensure the gathered information was representative of the population and captured at a single point in time. The study discovered a prevalence of contraceptive use among females of 55.7%, with short-term hormonal methods being the most common at 57.1%. Key findings revealed that females aged 18 to 30 years (57.1%) were significantly more likely to use contraception (p-value = 0.036), and multiparous individuals (98.2%) were more inclined to utilize contraception compared to para-one individuals (50.6%) (p-value = 0.024). Moreover, prior counseling (73.2%) significantly promoted contraceptive usage (p-value = 0.015). In conclusion, despite the observed prevalence, contraceptive utilization remained relatively low. Recommendations include increasing the availability of contraceptive services at lower-level health care centers to enhance accessibility, educating mothers visiting health facilities about contraceptive services, and addressing contraception-related phobias through counseling to encourage uptake among females. Keywords: Contraceptives, Females, Reproductive age, Health services, Health facility.

Prevalence and pattern of contraceptive uptake among adolescents in an internally displaced camp, North Central, Nigeria.

Internally displaced Persons are marginally sidelined in many areas of life, reproductive health issues inclusive. There is a need to know the prevalence and pattern of contraceptive use among this vulnerable group of people. This study determined the prevalence and pattern of contraceptive uptake among internally displaced adolescents in North-Central Camp, Abuja, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study, among 403 adolescents using semi-structured questionnaires. The mean age of the respondents was 19.53±6.4 years and 21.34±7.34 years at first birth. Awareness about FP was high, (483, 95.0%), however, only 169 (41.9%) ever used a family planning method, while 82 (20.3%) were current users, 72 (42.6%) of the 169 ever users admitted to have used pills, while 44 (53.7%) of the 82 current users were using condom only. One third, 160 (39.7%), were pregnant, while 78 (19.4%) of those pregnant were unintentional, therefore the unintended pregnancy rate was 19.4%. Bivariate analysis revealed that respondents' use of contraceptive was significantly related to religion (<0.001), ethnic group (<0.001), marital status (<0.001), family type (<0.001), and educational attainment (<0.001). While respondents' knowledge of contraceptive was significantly associated with age (P<0.00000001), educational level (P<0.002), and ethnic group (P<0.001). The prevalence of contraceptive use among respondents was 20.3%, while 41.9% ever used a method. Pill was the major Family planning method ever used, while condom was mostly used by the current users.

Awareness of Contraceptives and Their Use Among Saudi Women Attending Primary Care Centers in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background The objective of this cross-sectional study is to identify the prevalence of contraceptive use and the knowledgeand attitudes of Saudi women towards it. Methods We distributed a survey to Saudi women aged 19-49 attending primary care centers under King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh to identify their views on using contraceptives and what they know about them. We calculated the sample size using the Roasoft sample calculator. Results This study enrolled 432 Saudi women. The number of women who were contraceptive users was 249 (57.6%). Among those who were using contraceptives, the most common reason was the idea of taking care of themselves and avoiding consecutive pregnancies (105, 42.2%). Of the non-users, the most common reason was concerns regarding side effects (41%). The most commonly used contraceptive methods were contraceptive pills (55.6%) and intrauterine devices (IUDs) (17.6%). The most commonly used non-pharmacological contraception methods were withdrawal (17.6%) and rhythm (8.6%). Conclusion In this study, factors associated with contraceptive use among Saudi women were explored.Demographic data, type, attitude, and associations provided insight into factors taken into consideration while developing future contraceptives in addition to improving clinical practice.

Family Planning Uptake and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Rusizi District, Rwanda

The global landscape of contraception use, particularly in developing countries, presents a concerning situation. Approximately 123 million women in these regions, who wish to space and limit their births, do not use contraception. This leads to 38% of pregnancies worldwide being unwanted, and a staggering 60% of these unwanted pregnancies result in induced abortions. Lack of information about available family planning services is a significant obstacle, with an estimated 214 million women facing this barrier. The overall prevalence of contraceptive use stands at 22%, varying widely from 3.5% in the Central African Republic to 49.7% in Namibia. This study focused on the low family planning uptake in the Rusizi district of Rwanda. It involved 382 women of reproductive age and 18 key informants. The research adopted quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, and the analysis revealed several insights. Notably, the majority of the participants were women, most of whom fell within the 31 to 40 age group and had limited education. Financial constraints and the need for spousal approval were identified as key factors affecting family planning usage. Multivariable analysis showed that women educated in technical and vocational schools, living in low-income households, and obtaining their husband's approval had significantly higher odds of using family planning. Interview data indicated that inadequate information on family planning services and financial limitations were substantial barriers. The study's primary recommendation is to target women in low-income groups for education, income enhancement, and empowerment to enable them to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives. This approach involves collaborative efforts with their husbands. Keywords: Family Planning Uptake, Reproductive Age, Rwanda

Use of any contraceptive method among women in rural communities in the eastern region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Ghana, there is an increase in contraceptive use for traditional and modern methods in rural areas. This study seeks to examine the prevalence and determinants of current use of any contraceptive method among women of reproductive age in the rural Eastern Region of Ghana.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age in the rural Eastern region of Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to interview women in rural Lower Manya and Upper Manya Krobo districts of Eastern region who were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were analysed using Stata version 16. A Binary logistic regression was used to examine the determinants of current use of any contraceptive use (traditional and modern methods).ResultsThe prevalence of contraceptive use was 27.8%. In the adjusted analysis of binary logistic regression, contraceptive use was significantly lower (aOR = 0.24; 95%CI = 0.10–0.56; p = 0.001) among respondents aged 41–49 years compared to those aged 18–35 years. Contraceptive use was significantly lower among migrants (aOR:0.53; 95%CI:0.28–0.99; p = 0.048) compared with non-migrant.ConclusionThe prevalence of any contraceptive use among rural women was low. Government and other stakeholders need to create awareness about contraception in the rural areas of Eastern region of Ghana and that would help increase contraceptive methods utilization. In addition, family planning programs should target migrants to design an intervention to increase contraceptive use in rural areas.

Contraceptive use among people with disabilities in sub-Sahara Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In sub-Saharan Africa, there are different studies on contraceptive use and associated factors among people with disabilities. However, the findings are inconsistent and inconclusive. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of contraceptive use and associated factors among women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. Comprehensive search was performed from different databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guideline was followed to report the results. The data were analyzed by using STATA software. Heterogeneity and publication bias was checked. The pooled odds ratio (POR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to report the measures of associations. The pooled prevalence of contraceptive use was 25.61% (95% CI: 20.68, 30.54). Being married (POR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.31, 4.62), high income (POR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.42, 2.97), having media access (POR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.23), being in the age group of 25-34 (POR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.94), vision impairment (POR = 3.82; 95% CI: 2.05, 5.59), good contraceptive knowledge (POR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.91), primary education (POR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.39), secondary education (POR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.59) and tertiary educational status (POR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.28, 5.46) were factors associated with contraceptive use. Contraceptive use among women with disabilities is considerably low in sub-Saharan Africa. The use of contraceptives is primarily dependent on socio-demographic and economic status.

Socioeconomic inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Benin: a decomposition analysis

BackgroundContraceptive use is crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3. Evidence of socioeconomic inequality in the use of modern contraceptives is essential to address the developing inequality in its utilisation given the low prevalence of contraceptive use among women in Benin. This study examined the socioeconomic inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Benin.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2017-18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data. A weighted sample of 7,360 sexually active women of reproductive age was included in the study. We used a concentration curve to plot the cumulative proportion of women using modern contraception. Decomposition analysis was conducted to determine factors accounting for the socioeconomic disparities in modern contraceptive use.ResultsWe noted that the richest women had higher odds of modern contraceptive use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.67, CI = 1.22–2.30) compared to the poorest women. Other factors that showed significant associations with modern contraception use were age, marital status, religious affiliation, employment status, parity, women’s educational level, and ethnicity. We found that modern contraceptive use is highly concentrated among the rich, with rich women having a higher propensity of using modern contraception relative to the poor. Also, the disadvantaged to modern contraceptive use included the poor, those aged 45–49, married women, those working, those with four or more live births, rural residents, and women of Bariba and related ethnicity. Conversely, favourable concentration in modern contraceptive use was found among the rich, women aged 20–24, the divorced, women with two live births, the highly educated, those with media exposure, and women of Yoruba and related ethnicity.ConclusionThe study has shown that wealthy women are more likely to utilize contraceptives than the poor. This is because wealthy women could afford both the service itself and the travel costs to the health facility, hence overcoming any economic barriers to using modern contraception. Other factors such as age, marital status, religion, employment status, parity, mother’s educational level, and ethnicity were associated with contraceptive use in Benin. The Benin government and other stakeholders should develop family planning intercession techniques that address both the supply and demand sides of the equation, with a focus on reaching the illiterate and under-resourced population without admittance to modern contraception.

Decomposing the Gap in Contraceptive Use Among Female Adolescents and Young Women Aged 15-24 in India: An Analysis of Appended Datasets of NFHS-4 and 5.

Owing to the reproductive health needs of the budding adolescent and young population, the present study aims to determine the factors associated with and decomposing the gap in contraceptive use among adolescents and young women in India. Cross sectional design.SettingThe present study is based in India using the appended datasets (IV and V rounds) of the Indian Demographic Health Survey (DHS), also known as National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 2015-16 and 2019-21. The adequate sample size was 475,294 adolescents and young women in NFHS-4 and 229,705 in NFHS-5, totaling 704,999 adolescents (appended for NFHS-4 and 5) for the present study. Sociodemographic, sexual and reproductive history and contraceptive measures. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model were executed. Additionally, a decomposition technique called Fairlie decomposition was employed to identify the primary causes of the difference in the prevalence of contraceptive use between the two survey periods. Almost 96% of young women aged 15-24 knew about contraception, but only 12% used it. Regression analysis revealed that contraceptive use was associated with higher age (AOR 1.09), higher education (AOR 1.28), married adolescents (AOR 4.08), richest wealth quantile (AOR 2.95), joint decision making (AOR 4.40), knowledge of ovulatory cycle (AOR 1.47), interaction with a health worker about any methods of family planning (AOR 3.29) and three and above children ever born (AOR 18.54). Decomposition analysis showed that factors like decision-making of contraception, age, interaction with family planning worker, the intention of last pregnancy, place of residence and age at first sex contributed to increasing the probability of contraceptive use from NFHS-4 to 5. A target-based approach dedicated to understanding the mindset of adolescents and keeping up with their unique needs is the need of the hour.

AWARENESS REGARDING DIFFERENT FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AMONG MARRIED WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE GROUP IN URBAN SLUMS OF BERHAMPUR, ODISHA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Family planning services have the potential to improve the quality of the lives of people and their economic welfare. Objectives: To determine knowledge and practice of contraception and to find out the association between contraceptive practices and different variables. Methods: A cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted among 300 married women of 15–49 year age group of urban slums of Berhampur, Odisha, using a pretested and predesigned schedule. Results: Majority of women (93%) were aware of different types of FP methods but only 79.7% of females had known where the services are available. Health worker females (77.3%) act as the most influential source of information about contraceptive practices followed by the ASHA (71.6%). The contraceptive prevalence rate was 78.7%. Out of 236 Current users, temporary methods were being adopted by 65.3% and permanent methods by 34.7% respectively. Among the temporary method users, 24.1% of women used oral contraceptive pills, IUCD and injectables were being used by 6.4% each and condoms were being used by the partners of 28.4% of women as a means of contraception. Acceptance of family planning methods was significantly associated with variables such as increasing age, nuclear family, and level of literacy. Conclusion: The prevalence of contraceptive use was high among the study population, but the use of a modern and safe method of contraception was low. Continuous IEC activities by the service providers such as ASHAs, AWWs, and HWFs with support from the supervisor matters for better adherence to contraceptive methods.

A Review of Contraceptive Prevalence Rates in Afghanistan

Background and Objective: Family planning programs and the use of contraceptives are among the priorities of maternal and child health. Adequate information about the prevalence of family planning programs and contraceptive use in Afghanistan is not readily available. This review attempts to provide an appropriate perspective on the prevalence rates of contraceptive use based on existing data and suggests practical measures to improve the prevalence of contraceptive usage.&#x0D; Research Method: In this review, data from Google Scholar, PubMed, the Ministry of Public Health website, the World Health Organization, and the National Family Planning Program were utilized. Seven articles published between 2001 and 2023 were selected and analyzed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.&#x0D; Findings: A narrative summary of the results of the selected articles is presented in this paper. According to studies conducted in the country, statistics on the prevalence of contraceptive use show significant differences in comparison to demographic structures. The lowest figure reported in these studies is 10.4%. The utilization of contraceptives is reported as follows: oral contraceptives 38.5%, condoms 30.3%, medroxyprogesterone 17.0%, intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) 15.6%. Overall, the prevalence rate of contraceptive use in the entire country reaches 15.4%.&#x0D; Conclusion: In Afghanistan, due to numerous barriers, the use of contraceptives and the gap between pregnancies have not been promoted. Conversely, according to the conservative beliefs of the illiterate segments of society, the use of contraceptives is considered contrary to their religious beliefs and even in conflict with divine instructions. Therefore, it is imperative for policymakers to develop comprehensive and inclusive programs in this regard and seek assistance from religious leaders to align the community with these programs. Ultimately, the entire society needs to be mobilized.

A cross-sectional study of knowledge and practices related to sexual and reproductive health among adolescents in 'unrestricted environments' in Ghana: A policy implementation context view

Background: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is key to the growth and development of adolescents. Inadequate information exposes adolescents to some challenges. This becomes more pronounced as they move from restricted unrestricted environments such as pertains universities where there is virtually no control. It is importantto assess their knowledge of issues related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) needs and how that knowledge influences their sexual practices. Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of adolescents in public universities across Ghana on their SRH needs. Study Participants: 672 adolescents from the three selected public institutions who met the inclusion criteria and consented to the study. Study Setting: The Study Setting was the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA); Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi; and the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, all in Ghana. Study Design: A cross-sectional study of adolescents in public universities across Ghana. Results: The study found that over 80% of university respondentshad high knowledge of ASRH issues. However, more than two-thirds (67%) of the respondents indicated that they had no knowledge that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be transmitted through unprotected sex. Regarding their sexual practices, the study found that 70% of the respondents were sexually active however, the prevalence of contraceptive use among them was extremely low (7%). Conclusion: A high level of knowledge on SRH issues among a large proportion of sexually active adolescents does not correspond to levels of practising safe sex making themsusceptible to STIsand unplanned pregnancies. Knowledge was thus disproportionally associated with safe sexual practices among adolescents in the unrestricted environments surveyed. Implementing behavioural change interventions through sexual education and improved access to ASRH services could improve the situation. These findings are thus relevant for SRH policy reforms and implementation programmes.

Trends of Contraceptive Usage among Women in Tertiary Hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria: A Five-Year Retrospective CrossSectional Study

Background: Maternal and infant mortality can be reduced with use of contraceptives which protects against unplanned pregnancies, high parity and high fertility and ensuring proper spacing between child births. Nigeria’s fertility rate is high, with 5.7 children per woman while the contraceptive prevalence rate is low, with a rate of 15%. Studying the trend will provide information on the uptake of diverse contraception approaches and provide information for counseling. Objective: To determine the trend and preferred methods of contraceptive usage among patients who attend the family planning clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Nigeria. Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study involving collection of data from the family planning register of women who attended family planning clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria, from 1st April 2014 to 1st March 2019. The information obtained from the case files were socio-demographic data such as the age and parity including the contraceptive methods, and yearly uptakes. The data obtained were analysed using statistical package SPSS version 26. Result: The total number of deliveries at the study center in the studied period was 3457, while the total number of contraceptive methods used was 578, giving an overall contraceptive prevalence rate of 16.7%. The prevalence rate showed a rise from 15.7% in 2014/2015 to as high as 19.1% in 2018/2019. The age group with most of the women from the study was 30 to 34 (29.2%) years. Majority of the women (251; 43.4%) used sub-dermal implants, 219 (37.9%) women used intrauterine contraceptive device (CUT380A), and this was followed by 96 (16.6%) women that used injectable hormonal contraceptive. We also observed an increase in preference for use of hormonal contraceptive methods (implants) as compared to the non hormonal methods (CUT380A). Conclusion: The trend so far, shows a rise in contraceptive use with the sub-dermal implants in the study center, with a notable improvement in the prevalence of contraceptive use within the last 5 years of the study. There is need for health information on the use of contraceptives to improve the uptake.

A Study on Contraceptive Practice and Associated Factors among Women Garments Worker

Introduction: The garment industry is a crucial contributor to the economy of Bangladesh and employs a large number of women of reproductive age. However, contraceptive use among these women is low, which can lead to unintended pregnancies and adverse health outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the contraceptive practices and associated factors among female garment workers in Bangladesh. Methods: This prospective observational cross- sectional study was conducted at Islami Bank Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study duration was 1 year, from November 2021 to October 2022. During this period, a total of 300 garment workers were enrolled in the study following the inclusion and exclusion criteria from those employed at any of the various garments of Mirpur region, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Result: The study found that a majority of participants were aged 21-25 years (44.33%), Muslim (77.67%), had a primary level of education (44.33%), and had 1-2 children (69.33%). Almost half of the participants had good knowledge of contraception (48.33%), 66.67% had a positive attitude and 66.00% reported using contraception regularly. The most commonly used method of contraception was oral contraceptive pills (43.04%), followed by condoms (29.13%), and injections (22.17%). A considerable number of participants (14.35%) reported an unknown source of contraception. Among the 70 participants who did not use contraceptives, the most commonly reported reasons were an expectation that the patient will not get pregnant (45.71%) and partner refusal (41.43%). Only 25.33% of participants had access to family planning services. The accessibility of family planning services was significantly associated with the knowledge of contraception, the attitude toward contraception, and the use of contraception. The use of contraception was higher among participants who reported access to family planning services (84.93%) compared to those who did not have access (59.91%). Conclusion: The study highlights the low prevalence of contraceptive use among female garment workers in Bangladesh and the need for increased access to family planning services. Partner involvement and education on contraceptive methods and their side effects may also contribute to increased contraceptive use.