Use of any contraceptive method among women in rural communities in the eastern region of Ghana: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC public health 2023-10, Vol.23 (1), p.1-1925, Article 1925
• Main Authors: Yeboah, Isaac, Agyekum, Martin Wiredu, Okyere, Joshua, Mensah, Ronald Osei, Essiaw, Mary Naana, Appiah, Hilda, Conduah, Andrew Kweku, Koduah, Seth Nana Kwabena, Christian, Aaron Kobina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Birth control; Communities; Confidentiality; Contraception; Contraceptives; Cross-sectional studies; Data collection; Determinants; Eastern; Educational attainment; Empowerment; Family planning; Health surveys; Households; Immigration policy; Marital status; Methods; Migrants; Obesity; Oral contraceptives; Overweight; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Random sampling; Rural; Rural areas; Rural communities; Sample size; Sociodemographics; Statistical sampling; Surveys; Variables; Women; Womens health
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16795-1

Background In Ghana, there is an increase in contraceptive use for traditional and modern methods in rural areas. This study seeks to examine the prevalence and determinants of current use of any contraceptive method among women of reproductive age in the rural Eastern Region of Ghana. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age in the rural Eastern region of Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to interview women in rural Lower Manya and Upper Manya Krobo districts of Eastern region who were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data were analysed using Stata version 16. A Binary logistic regression was used to examine the determinants of current use of any contraceptive use (traditional and modern methods). Results The prevalence of contraceptive use was 27.8%. In the adjusted analysis of binary logistic regression, contraceptive use was significantly lower (aOR = 0.24; 95%CI = 0.10-0.56; p = 0.001) among respondents aged 41-49 years compared to those aged 18-35 years. Contraceptive use was significantly lower among migrants (aOR:0.53; 95%CI:0.28-0.99; p = 0.048) compared with non-migrant. Conclusion The prevalence of any contraceptive use among rural women was low. Government and other stakeholders need to create awareness about contraception in the rural areas of Eastern region of Ghana and that would help increase contraceptive methods utilization. In addition, family planning programs should target migrants to design an intervention to increase contraceptive use in rural areas. Keywords: Prevalence, Determinants, Contraceptives, Rural, Communities, Eastern, Region, Ghana