Factors Influencing Use of Modern Contraception Among Married Women in Ho West District, Ghana: Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: the use of modern contraception helps couples and individuals realize their basic right to decide freely and responsibly if, when and how many children to have. The current study assessed the factors influencing the use of modern contraception among married women in Ho West District, Ghana.

Methods: the study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, using a standardized validated pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from previous studies to collect data from a systematic sample of 225 married women and analyzing them using Stata version 14 software program at the level 0.05.

Results: the majority, 202 (89.8%) had used modern contraception before, and the proportion currently using some form of family planning (FP) was 130 (64.4%), majority (46.2%) of whom were currently using injectable. Majority (66.1%) used modern contraception in order to ensure proper care of children. Most (64.2%) of the women who were not using modern contraception were not doing so because of their partner's disapproval. Private employees were 0.20 times less likely to use modern contraception (AOR=0.20 (95% CI: 0.04-0.91); p=0.038) compared to housewives, while women who did not have problems with decision-making were 4 times more likely to use modern contraception (AOR=4.40 (95% CI: 1.25-14.44); p=0.021) compared to their counterparts who had problems with decision-making at home.

Conclusion: the use of modern contraception is low. Health promotion interventions to increase modern contraception use among married women in Ho West District of Ghana should focus on the privately employed and those with problems in decision-making at home.