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Contraceptive Use Pattern Based on the Number and Composition of Children Among Married Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Multilevel Analysis

Overview
Journal Contracept Reprod Med
Publisher Biomed Central
Specialty Reproductive Medicine
Date 2023 Jul 24
PMID 37488658
Authors
Achamyeleh Birhanu Teshale
Vicky Qi Wang
Godness Kye Biney
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
Nicholas Kofi Adjei
Sanni Yaya
Affiliations
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Abstract

Background: The relationship between composition of children and contraception use has received limited scholarly attention in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we examined the relationship between contraceptive methods, the number and composition of children in SSA.

Methods: Data on 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries that had a Demographic and Health Survey on or before 2015 were analysed. We applied a multilevel multinomial logistic regression model to assess the influence of family composition on contraceptive use. Adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR) and 95% CI were estimated. The significant level was set at p < 0.05. All the analyses were conducted using weighted data.

Results: Women who had one son and two daughters (aRRR = 0.85, CI = 0.75, 0.95), two sons and one daughter (aRRR = 0.81 CI = 0.72, 0.92), one son and three daughters (aRRR = 0.66, CI = 0.54, 0.80), two sons and two daughters (aRRR = 0.59, CI = 0.50, 0.69), and three or more sons (aRRR = 0.75, CI = 0.63, 0.91) were less likely to use temporary modern contraceptive methods. Those with two sons and two daughters were less likely to use traditional methods (aRRR = 0.52, CI = 0.35, 0.78). Women in the older age group (35-49 years) were less likely to use temporary modern methods (aRRR = 0.60; 95%CI; 0.57, 0.63). However, this group of women were more likely to use permanent (sterilization) (aRRR = 1.71; 95%CI; 1.50, 1.91) and traditional methods (aRRR = 1.28; 95%CI; 1.14, 1.43).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that contraception needs of women vary based on the composition of their children, hence a common approach or intervention will not fit. As a result, contraception interventions ought to be streamlined to meet the needs of different categories of women. The findings can inform policymakers and public health professionals in developing effective strategies to improve contraceptive use in SSA.

Citing Articles

Socio-Economic Determinants of Contraceptive Use among Married Women in the Addis Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Addis-HDSS) in Ethiopia.

Berhane H, Abdelmenan S, Workneh F, Tewahido D, Shifraw T, Yibeltal K Ethiop J Health Sci. 2025; 34(Spec Iss 2):119-126.

PMID: 39911644 PMC: 11793118. DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v34i2.8S.

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