Determinants Of Modern Contraceptive Use Among Young Women In Ghana

ABSTRACT

Background:

Unintended pregnancy among young women is a major challenge that hinders attainment of optimal reproductive health. Little is known about contraceptives young women use and factors that influence their use. Knowledge on the determinants of modern contraceptive use among young women in Ghana is essential for intervention programmes targeted at improving young women’s reproductive health.

Objective:

To examine the use of modern contraceptives and its determinants among young women in Ghana.

Methods:

An analysis of data from 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) involving 4,267 sexually active young women aged 15–24 years and were not pregnant during the survey. Pearson’s chi-square test of association and logistic regression were used to examine the determinants of modern contraceptive use among study participants.

Results:

Overall prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 27.6% among the study participants; 20% among females aged 15-19 years and 31.4% among 20-24 years. The male condom was the most widely known modern contraceptive (97.4%), followed by injectable (93.7%) and implants (90.3%); male sterilisation was the least known modern contraceptive (34.7%). The injectable was the widely used modern contraception method (25.8%), followed by implant, male condom, and pills. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following factors as significant determinants of modern contraceptive use among young women in Ghana: age (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.23- 1.74, p