Factors Influencing the Use of Modern Contraceptives Amongst Postpartum Women in a Rural Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria

The postpartum period is a critical time to address the high unmet needs of family planning and reduce the risks associated with closely spaced pregnancies. Unintended pregnancies immediately following childbirth are associated with increased maternal mortality, morbidity, and poor pregnancy outcomes. Adoption of postpartum family planning is a cost-effective way that would reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to establish the prevalence, the clients' sociodemographic factors, and health care workers' influences on modern contraceptive uptake amongst postpartum women at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out amongst postpartum mothers attending maternal and child health clinics in ISTH, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. The selection of participants was by simple random sampling technique. All consented participants selected through simple random sampling were administered questionnaires, and completed ones were coded and analysed while the level of significance was set at 5%. In this study, over 90% of the women were aware of a method of modern contraception. However, this did not translate to increased contraceptive uptake as only 17.8% of the respondents were currently on a method of postpartum contraception. The statistically significant sociodemographic factors influencing the utilization of modern contraceptives by postpartum women, as seen in this study, were: Age (p <0.001), level of education (p <0.001), religion (p=0.048), and parity (p=0.010). The women who have higher educational status, higher parity, and adequate information provided by healthcare providers were more likely to use at least a method of modern contraceptive postpartum. The uptake of modern contraceptives amongst postpartum women was low in this study. Strengthening family planning counseling services during prenatal care and emphasizing the girl child education, provision of adequate information by healthcare providers on the need for postpartum contraception could enhance modern contraceptive use for postpartum women.