Healthcare system indicators associated with modern contraceptive use in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria: evidence from the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 data

Evaluation of immediate and sustained effects of transitioning quality long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) services to public sector health facilities in Ghana: a pre-post intervention study

BACKGROUND

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are highly effective at preventing pregnancy and demonstrate favorable client satisfaction. However, limited knowledge, misconceptions, and concerns about side effects hinder LARC adoption. Marie Stopes International-Ghana collaborated with Ghana Health Service to implement a 5 year multifaceted intervention to transition quality LARC services from an outreach approach to being available in public sector health facilities. This study evaluates if the intervention resulted in immediate or sustained improvements in the provision of quality LARC services in the public sector.

METHODS

Using a pre-post intervention design, facility structural quality, providers' training, practice, and knowledge on the provision of LARCs, and clients' perceived service quality were assessed in 8 Ghanaian regions. Analyses compared endline and baseline data, categorized into two groups based on the program phase: Recent Intervention facilities and GHS Support facilities. Facility records on a 3 month volume of LARC provision were compared between the last quarters of 2019 and 2022. Multivariate logistic regressions of any increase in the volume of LARC provision were conducted with associated endline facility and provider characteristics summarized at the facility level.

RESULTS

Significant increases were found in the provision of IUD services among Recent Intervention facilities (CHPS facilities: T0 13%, T2 50%, p < 0.001; HC/Hospitals: T0 23%, T2 53%, p < 0.001), while almost all providers offered implant services across facility types and intervention phases. The proportion of providers ever been trained to insert LARCs increased. Immediate and sustained effects were found on knowledge of LARC provision. Although facilities had significant increases in usual IUD availability among those in Recent Intervention (CHPS: T0 13.0%, T2 50.0%, p < 0.001), availability of IUD decreased to pre-intervention level upon transition to GHS Support. Controlling for other factors, facilities which had transitioned to GHS support were far less likely than those in the Recent Intervention phase to have an increase in the volume of LARC provision.

CONCLUSIONS

This 5 year collaboration between MSI-Ghana and the Ghana Health Service increased the capacity of providers at 210 GHS facilities to provide high-quality LARC services. Future programs to improve LARC provision in the public sector may also consider including sustainable interventions to strengthen logistical management systems and targeting barriers to LARC access in the community. Increasing access to and use of modern contraception reduces unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, thereby decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality. Despite long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are highly effective at pregnancy prevention and favored by clients, utilization in many low- and middle-income countries has been low. In Ghana, less than half of women who want to delay, space, or limit childbearing use a modern contraceptive method. As the public sector is the predominant source of family planning services, improving the quality and provision of LARC services in the public sector has the most potential to increase women's access to LARCs. Marie Stopes International-Ghana collaborated with Ghana Health Service to implement a 5-year program to transition the provision of quality LARC services from its mobile clinic outreach model to public sector health facilities through a phased approach. We studied the immediate and longer-term effects on the provision and utilization of quality LARC services in the public sector. We collected three rounds of data from intervention facilities, associated providers, and clients. We found increased providers providing IUD services, trained in LARC provision, and increased and sustained knowledge needed for quality LARC services provision. Despite improvement, after the intervention ended, IUD availability at the facility decreased. Facilities that completed the intervention for at least several months were less likely to maintain the increased level of LARC provision than those still in the intervention or recently concluded. These findings underline the need for additional efforts to strengthen logistical management systems to ensure consistent provision of quality LARC services.

Contraceptive use pattern based on the number and composition of children among married women in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis

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.

The burden of unintended pregnancies among Indian adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: findings from the UDAYA survey (2015-16 & 2018-19)

BACKGROUND

Unintended pregnancy severely affects the health and welfare of women and children, specifically if women are young and vulnerable. This study aims to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its determinants among adolescent girls and young adult females in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. We believe the present study is unique as it examines the association between unintended pregnancy and sociodemographic factors among young female population in two states of India from 2015-19.

METHODS

The data for the present study is derived from the two-wave longitudinal survey "Understanding the lives of adolescents and young adults" (UDAYA) conducted in 2015-16 (Wave 1) and 2018-19 (Wave 2). Univariate, bivariate analysis along with logistic regression models were employed.

RESULTS

The results revealed that 40.1 per cent of all currently pregnant adolescents and young adult females reported their pregnancy as unintended (mistimed and unwanted) in Uttar Pradesh at Wave 1 of the survey, which decreased to 34.2 per cent at Wave 2. On the contrary, almost 99 per cent of all currently pregnant adolescents in Bihar reported their pregnancy as unintended at Wave 1, which decreased to 44.8 per cent at Wave 2. The sociodemographic factors like age, caste, religion, education, wealth, media and internet use, knowledge and effective contraception highly impacted unintended pregnancy in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The longitudinal results of the study revealed that place of residence, internet use, number of wanted children, heard about contraception and SATHIYA, use of contraception, side effects of contraception, and the confidence in getting contraceptives from ASHA/ANM did not appear significant predictors at Wave 1. However, they emerge significant over time (Wave 2).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite many recently launched policies for adolescents and the youth population, this study comprehended that the level of unintended pregnancies in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh stands worrisome. Therefore, adolescents and young females need more comprehensive family planning services to improve their awareness and knowledge about contraceptive methods and use.

Reason and Associated Factors for Nonuse of Contraceptives Among Ethiopian Rural Married Women: A Multilevel Mixed Effect Analysis

Introduction

Contraception has a clear impact on the health of women and families in developing countries. This study aims to identify multilevel determinants of nonuse of modern contraceptives among Ethiopian rural married women in their productive age group.

Method

The study relied on data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. A multilevel logistic regression model was used for analysis.

Result

In rural areas, nonuse of modern contraceptives is surprising high (81.7%), primarily due to fear of side effects (12.89%) and breastfeeding (8.2%). Among women aged 35 to 49 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.540.81), husbands with secondary and above education levels (AOR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.7-1), those in the high wealth index (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.51-0.72), and those who have had 1 to 2 children in the past 5 years (AOR  =  0.28; 95% CI: 0.24-0.33), there was a lower chance of not using contraception. Muslims are less likely to want to use modern contraceptives (AOR = 1.2; 95% CI: 0.96-1.4). Women living in Afar (AOR  =  20.9; 95% CI: 9.6-44.7), Oromia (AOR =  1.5; 95% CI: 1.01-2.3), Somali (AOR = 71.1; 95% CI: 24.1-209.2), Gambela (AOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.4-3.9), Harari (AOR  =  4.4; 95% CI: 2.24-8.72), and Dire Dawa (AOR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5-6.9), regional states, were less likely to want to use modern contraceptives as compared to those in Tigray.

Conclusion

Family planning interventions should target younger women, women living in rural areas, the poor, and Muslim women. In order to maximize the effectiveness of family planning promotion policies, it's important to address the reasons for nonuse of contraceptives identified in each region and contextual differences regarding women of reproductive age.

Faith Leaders Improve Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy: Results of Operations Research on the Channels of Hope Methodology in Kenya and Ghana

Background

Family planning averts unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths, while improving child health and socio-economic progress, but an estimated 218 million women and girls in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, have an unmet need for modern family planning. Faith leaders can impact the demand and uptake of family planning. However, there is limited understanding of the mechanisms for effective family planning advocacy by faith leaders. Channels of Hope (CoH) is World Vision's process that engages faith leaders and faith communities to address health issues.

Objectives

To determine the impact of CoH on promoting healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies and family planning (HTSP/FP) by mothers of children under two years old in select parts of Kenya and Ghana. To also determine faith leaders' attitudes, perceptions, and potential roles in influencing HTSP/FP after exposure to CoH.

Methods

A mixed methods operations research comprising quantitative (quasi-experimental design with surveys of 4,372 mothers of children under two years old) and qualitative arms (in-depth interviews of 17 faith leaders and their seven spouses) was implemented.

Findings

Taking both countries together, male sterilization, female condom, and LAM were the only FP methods that did not show increases from baseline to endline. Methods with the highest knowledge increases between intervention areas and control areas were implants, injectables and pills, with 18.4, 12.1 and 11.2 percentage point increases, respectively. The faith leaders in both countries reported that their views on healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies changed due to the Channels of Hope workshops.

Conclusion

The HTSP/FP model has potential for positive health and social transformation that is built on the trust of faith leaders. Ghana and Kenya provide great examples of possible scenarios in order to help prepare implementers to scale the learnings of this operations research across sub-Saharan Africa.

Factors associated with non-use of modern contraceptives among sexually active women in Ethiopia: a multi-level mixed effect analysis of 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Background

Appropriate contraceptive use prevents unintended pregnancy, protects the health of mother and child, and promotes women’s well-being. Use of modern Family planning in Ethiopia was still very low. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that are associated with non-use of modern family planning services among women of reproductive age.

Method

A nationally representative 2016 EDHS women data were used for analysis. A total of 15,683 women in the reproductive age group were included in this study. Descriptive and multilevel multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to summarize descriptive data and measure statistical association between the dependent and the individual and community level variable, respectively. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and confidence interval were respectively used to measure association and its statistical significance.

Result

Among women in the reproductive age group 79.49% (95% CI: 78.85%, 80.12%) did not use a modern contraceptive method. Women age between 25–34 years (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47–0.61) and age between 34–49 year (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.55–0.71), having primary educated women (AOR = 0.0.77, 95% CI: 0.68–0.87),secondary and above educational (AOR = 0.88, CI: 0.75–1.03), Secondary and above-educated husband (AOR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72–0.96), rich women (AOR = 0.74,95%CI:0.65–0.85), health facility delivery (AOR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.73–0.0.98), being watching TV (AOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.65–0.85), having 1–2 living children (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.19–0.23) are less likely to not use contraception were identified. Furthermore, Muslim women (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.23–1.62), women living in rural area (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 2.72–4.32), and ANC visit 1.25(1.07–1.47) were more likely to not use contraception. Further, Women in Afar, Somali, Gambela, Harari, and Dire Dawa were less likely to use modern contraception methods than women in Tigray, but Amhara region had a lower rate of non-use.

Conclusion

Family planning interventions should target younger women, women living in rural areas, the poor, and Muslim women. Moreover, initiatives to empower women associated to family planning programs would be beneficial in increasing contraceptive uptake among sexually active women in Ethiopia.

Using structural equation modeling to examine the influence of family planning social norms on modern contraceptive use in Nigeria

Despite high knowledge of family planning (FP) among Nigerian women, use of modern contraceptives remains low. While FP investments in Nigeria have been ongoing for decades, relatively little emphasis on contextual and structural factors may have contributed to low demand for and use of contraception. From 2009 to 2014, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) supported the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) with the aim of increasing voluntary use of contraceptives among women ages 15-49 years in six Nigerian cities. A subsequent phase of NURHI was implemented in three states for the next 3 to 5 years. Using cross-sectional survey data from three cities (two exposed to NURHI, one not exposed), this study examines whether social norms around FP were related to women's use of modern contraception, and whether the relationship differed by varying levels of exposure to the program (i.e., by city). We identified three distinct FP social norms through factor analysis: norms around delaying first pregnancy; spacing or limiting pregnancies; and using contraception when the husband disagrees. Using structural equation modeling, we found that FP social norms are related to use of modern contraceptive methods, and the relationship varies by city and norm type. The observed differences suggest that this relationship depends on numerous factors at the individual, interpersonal and societal level, and this may include malleable factors influenced by the NURHI program.

Does abolishing user fees for family planning increase contraception use? An impact evaluation of the national policy in Burkina Faso

Background

Unmet needs for contraception constitute a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Several mechanisms have been tested to reduce the financial barrier and facilitate access to family planning services, with inconclusive results. Based on the positive impacts following the introduction of free health care for pregnant women, Burkina Faso decided to extend its national policy and abolished direct payment for family planning services. This study aims to evaluate the impact of this policy on contraceptive use and unmet needs for contraception among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Burkina Faso.

Methods

This study uses two different study designs to examine the impact of a user fee removal policy on contraceptive use across a panel of 1400 households randomly selected across eight health districts. Data were collected using a standardized socio-demographic questionnaire at three different time points during the pilot and scale-up phases of the fee abolition program. The questionnaire was administered six months after the launch of the pilot fee abolition program in four health districts. For the remaining four health districts, the survey was conducted one year prior to and six months after the implementation of the program in those areas. All WRA in the households were eligible to participate. A cross-sectional study design was used to determine the association between knowledge of the fee abolition policy among WRA and actual use of contraceptives by WRA six months after the policy's implementation and across all eight districts. Additionally, a pre-post study with a non-randomized, reflexive control group was designed using repeated surveys in four health districts. Hierarchical logistic mixed effects models were adjusted for a set of time-variant individual variables; the impact was assessed by a difference-in-differences approach that compared pre-post changes in contraception use in women who knew about the new policy and those who did not.

Results

Of the 1471 WRA surveyed six months after the removal of user fees for family planning services, 56% were aware of the policy's existence. Knowledge of the fee abolition policy was associated with a 46% increase probability of contraceptive use among WRA six months after the policy's implementation. Among the subset of the participants who were surveyed twice (n = 507), 65% knew about the fee removal policy six months after its introduction and constitute the intervention group. Pre-post changes in contraceptive use differed significantly between the intervention (n = 327) and control groups (n = 180). Removing user fees for family planning led to an 86% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49, 1.31) increase in the likelihood of using contraception. In the study area, the policy reduced the prevalence of unmet needs for contraception by 13 percentage points.

Conclusions

Removing user fees for family planning services is a promising strategy to increase access to, and reduce unmet needs for, contraception. A broader dissemination of the policy's existence will likely increase its impact on the overall population.

Perspective Chapter: Factors that Influence Young Women’s Decision-Making in Contraceptive Use in Ashiedu Keteke of Accra, Ghana

Every young woman has the right to reproductive health care. It is quite important for every woman to make an informed decision when choosing contraception. This is because women of today face a lot of challenges when it comes to the issue of reproductive health care. Young women choose contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies and other reproductive health-related risks. The increase in abortion and pregnancy complication rates among young women is far too much and needs to be critically addressed to reduce maternal deaths (MD) and infant mortality. The decision made on the use of contraception by many young women has interfered with some factors that prevent them from making the right decisions. This piece is to identify those factors that influence young women’s reluctance of using contraception and how to promote contraceptive usage among Ghanaian women.

Spatial variations in family planning demand to limit childbearing and the demand satisfied with modern methods in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

There is an increasing demand for family planning to limit childbearing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, limited studies have quantified the spatial variations. This study examined: (i) the spatial patterns in the demand for family planning to limit childbearing and satisfied with modern methods, and (ii) the correlates of the demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied with modern methods in SSA.

Methods

This study analyzed secondary data on 306,080 married/in-union women obtained from Demographic Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2019 in 33 sub-Saharan African countries. We conducted exploratory spatial data analysis, with countries as the unit of analysis. We also performed regression analysis to determine the factors associated with demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied with modern methods in SSA.

Results

The mean percentage of women who demanded for family planning to limit childbearing by country was 20.5% while the mean prevalence of demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied with modern methods by country was 46.5%. There was a significant positive global spatial autocorrelation in the demand for family planning to limit childbearing (global Moran’s I = 0.3, p = 0.001). The cluster map showed the concentration of cold spots (low–low clusters) in western and central Africa (WCA), while hot spots (high–high clusters) were concentrated in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). Also, the demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied with modern methods showed significant positive global spatial autocorrelation (global Moran’s I = 0.2, p = 0.004) and concentration of cold spots in WCA. In the final multivariable regression model the joint family planning decision making (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), and antenatal care (β = 13.98, p < 0.001) were the significant factors associated with the demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied by modern methods.

Conclusions

There are significant spatial variations in the demand for family planning to limit childbearing and the demand satisfied by modern methods, with cold spots concentrated in WCA. Promoting joint decision making by partners and increasing uptake of antenatal care may improve the demand for family planning to limit childbearing satisfied with modern methods.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), studies have shown that the proportion of married women who want to stop having children has been increasing as well as the proportion using modern contraceptive methods among them. These studies also indicated that this proportion of women are higher in certain regions of Africa than the others. To extend these previous findings, we performed geographical analysis to assess how the proportion of married/in-union women who want to stop having children and the ones using modern methods among them differ geographically. Our findings indicated that neighboring countries where the proportion of married/in-union women who want to stop having children was higher than the overall average were concentrated in eastern and southern Africa (ESA), while neighboring countries in which the proportion of married/in-union women who want to stop having children was lower than the overall average were concentrated in western and central Africa (WCA). Similarly, the results also showed that neighboring countries where the proportion of married/in-union women using modern contraceptive methods among those who want to stop having children was lower than the overall average were concentrated in WCA. Our findings suggest that increasing joint decision making on family planning and uptake of antenatal care in SSA may improve the use of modern contraceptive methods among married/in-union women who want to stop childbearing.

Determinants of modern contraceptive utilization among married women in sub-Saharan Africa: multilevel analysis using recent demographic and health survey

BACKGROUND

Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy to improve child and maternal health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization among married women of sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women was included. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported. Multilevel regression analysis was used to identify the determinants of modern contraceptive use among married women. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model using the Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance test. Finally, the model with the highest LLR and the smallest deviance was selected as the best-fitted model.

RESULTS

The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub-Saharan African countries was 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization were high among women living in East Africa [AOR = 1.47 (1.40, 1.54)], urban areas [AOR = 1.18 (1.14, 1.24)], and women with primary [AOR = 1.49 (1.44, 1.55)] and secondary and above educational level [AOR = 1.66 (1.58, 1.74)]. Moreover, husbands with primary educational level [AOR = 1.38 (1.33, 1.42)], middle [AOR = 1.17, (1.14, 1.21)], rich wealth status [AOR = 1.29 (1.25, 1.34)], media exposure [AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)], and postnatal care (PNC) utilization [AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)] had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization compared with their counter parts. Furthermore, deliver at health facility [AOR = 1.74 (1.69, 1.79)] and birth order 2-4 [AOR = 1.36 (1.31, 1.41)] had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization. On the other hand, women living in Central [AOR = 0.23 (0.22, 0.24)], Western regions [AOR = 0.46 (0.40, 0.54)], women who decided with husband [AOR = 0.90 (0.87, 0.93)], and decisions by husband alone [AOR = 0.73 (0.71, 0.75)] decreased the odds of modern contraceptive utilization.

CONCLUSION

The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low. Modern contraceptive utilization is affected by different factors. More attention needs to be given to rural residents, illiterate women, and communities with low wealth status.

The public-sector family planning program impact scores in association with long acting reversible contraceptive use among young women in 22 Sub-Saharan African countries; A pooled multi-level analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of public-sector family planning program impact scores and other country-level factors on LARC use among young women aged 15-24.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted this research using a large population database covering several decades' worth of multi-wave cross-sectional samples of the demographic health survey (DHS) and the World Bank website data. We carried out a multi-level analysis on data from 1990 to 2019 from 22 Sub-Saharan African countries, with 163,242 participants.

RESULTS

We found LARC use was at 3.1% of all young women under study. Sierra Leone, 2019 survey had the highest LARC use at 21,961 per 100,000. A 10% increase in public-sector family planning program impact scores was positively associated with LARC use with odds ratio of 1.44, 95% CI, 1.43- 1.45). We also noted that a 1% increase in HIV prevalence was associated with a reduced odds ratio of LARC use at 0.75 (95% CI, 0.70-0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study provide empirical evidence highlighting the importance of country-level factors in influencing LARC use among young women in sub-Saharan Africa IMPLICATIONS: For young women in Africa, policymakers need to increase their effort on national family planning programs especially in the public sector. Broader societal level interventions to improve LARC use are required. Specific interventions must address the complexities of HIV prevention and LARC use to benefit young women living in countries with a high HIV prevalence.

The role of structural and process quality of family planning Care in Modern Contraceptive use in Indonesia: a multilevel analysis

Introduction

Despite contraceptive behaviors are influenced by multiple and multilevel variables, studies on modern contraceptive use in Indonesia has concentrated on single-level and mostly individual and household variables, and less interest has been devoted to multilevel analysis that accounts for community and SDP characteristics that may affect woman’s decision to use modern FP method. This study aimed to assess the role of structural and process quality of family planning care in modern contraceptive use among women in reproductive ages in Indonesia.

Methods

This study analyzed data from the 2016 PMA2020 survey of 10,210 women in 372 enumeration areas in Indonesia. The data were analyzed using categorical principal component analysis and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression.

Results

The key variables for structural quality were number of contraceptive provided, SDP supports CHWs, available water and electricity, and skilled FP personnel, while the main factors for process quality were privacy of clients and provision of post-abortion service. There were significant differences across communities in how study variables associated with modern FP adoption. The finding shows the evidence of significant roles of structural and process quality FP care in modern contraceptive use. Moreover, women with high autonomy in FP decision, those who had free national/district health insurance, and those living in a community with higher proportion of women visited by CHW, had higher odds of modern contraceptive usage. Yet, women who live in a community with higher mean ideal number of children or greater proportion of women citing personal/husband/religion opposition to FP, had lower odds of modern contraceptive use than their counterparts.

Conclusion

Study findings suggest improvement in structural and process quality of FP care will yield substantial growths in modern contraceptive use. Moreover, FP workers should also address adverse cultural/traditional customs in community and should target communities where the demand for modern FP was degraded by opposing social beliefs and norms. There was significant variation across communities in how individual, household, community, and SDP factors affect modern FP practice, hence, context should be taken into consideration in the development of FP intervention and promotion programs.

Predictors of modern contraceptive usage among sexually active rural women in Ethiopia: A multi-level analysis

BACKGROUND

Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan Africa countries with the lowest modern contraceptive prevalence rate and the highest fertility rate. This study aimed to assess individual and community-level predictors of modern contraceptive use among sexually active rural women in Ethiopia.

DATA AND METHODS

A sample of 9450 sexual active rural women aged 15-49 was extracted from the 15, 683 nationally representative samples of 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Multi-level logistic regression model was considered to identify determinant factors of modern contraceptive use among sexually active rural women in Ethiopia.

RESULT

The prevalence of modern contraceptive use among respondents was 20% in rural Ethiopia. Injection (66.35%) was the most common type of modern contraceptive use. In the last full model of the multilevel analysis, individual and community-level factors accounted for 86.69% of the variation in the use of modern contraceptive methods. Secondary and above-educated women (AOR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.06, 2.81), having 1-4 living children (AOR = 2.70, 95%CI: 2.07, 3.53), rich wealth status (AOR = 2.26, 95%CI: 1.96, 2.60), married women (AOR = 17.31, 95%CI: 10.72, 27.94), having primary educated husband (AOR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.27, 1.67) and being working husband (AOR = 2.26, 95%CI: 1.96, 2.60) were significantly positively associated with individual-level factors of the use of modern contraceptive methods. Besides, modern contraceptive use was negatively associated with Muslim women (AOR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.25, 0.33). Compared to the Tigray region, women living in the Afar, Somali, Harari, and Dire Dawa regions had lower use of modern contraceptive methods. Women who had access to mass media (AOR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.16, 1.57) were more likely to use contraceptives than their counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of modern contraceptive use among rural women has very low. Both individual and community-level factors were significant predictors of modern contraceptive use. Consequently, the government and other stakeholders need to address educational opportunities; creating awareness about modern contraception and valuable counseling would increase modern contraceptive methods utilization.

Contraceptive use among women with a history of induced abortion: findings from a national sample of sexually active, non-pregnant women in Ghana

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between a history of induced abortion and current use of contraception among reproductive-aged women in Ghana.

METHODS

The analysed data were a weighted sample of 6544 sexually active, non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years, obtained from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Survey logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds of currently using any contraception and of using a modern method of contraception, given a history of induced abortion in the period 2009-2014.

RESULTS

A history of induced abortion between 2009 and 2014 was reported by 17.4% of women (95% CI 16.0%, 18.9%); 28.7% (95% CI 26.9%, 30.6%) were currently using a method of contraception and 23.0% (95% CI 21.4%, 24.7%) were currently using a modern method of contraception. The majority (80.1%) of current contraceptive users were using a modern method. The adjusted analysis revealed no statistically significant association between a history of induced abortion and current contraceptive behaviour. Other factors were associated with modern contraceptive use.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the use of contraception among sexually active women in Ghana was found to be low. Our findings showed that women's experience of induced abortion was unlikely to influence their current use of modern contraception.

Socioeconomic inequalities in reproductive health care services across Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Women in Sub-Saharan African experience socioeconomic barriers in the use of reproductive health care services. This paper analyzes the evidence on socioeconomic inequalities in reproductive health care utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa and identifies the variance in the estimates of these inequalities.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on socioeconomic inequalities in the use of reproductive health care services published between January 2008 and June 2019. We used meta-regression to identify heterogeneity sources in reproductive care services use.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies were included and they reported 305 estimates of the concentration index for different reproductive health care services. We grouped the services into ten categories of reproductive health care services. Socioeconomic status was associated with inequality in reproductive health care use and was on average high, with a pro-wealthy inequality magnitude of the concentration index of 0.202. The meta-analysis indicated that inequality was highest for skilled childbirth services with an average concentration index of 0.343. The average concentration index for family planning and components of antenatal care was 0.268 and 0.142 respectively. Random-effects meta-regression showed that the heterogeneity in reproductive health care use was explained by contextual differences between countries.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of inequality in reproductive health care use varies with the type of service and the focus on skilled childbirth services through user fees removal appears to have fostered inequality. The one-size-fits-all approach to reproductive health care initiatives has ignored differences in reproductive health care needs and the ability to overcome use barriers.