Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data
Abstract Background Although Malawi is one of the countries with highest Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) in Sub–Saharan Africa, pregnancies and fertility among young women remain high. This suggests low up take of contraceptives by young women. The aim of this study was to investigate the factor...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Contraception and Reproductive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40834-018-0065-x |
| _version_ | 1818479243497046016 |
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| author | Chrispin Mandiwa Bernadetta Namondwe Andrew Makwinja Collins Zamawe |
| author_facet | Chrispin Mandiwa Bernadetta Namondwe Andrew Makwinja Collins Zamawe |
| author_sort | Chrispin Mandiwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although Malawi is one of the countries with highest Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) in Sub–Saharan Africa, pregnancies and fertility among young women remain high. This suggests low up take of contraceptives by young women. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. Methods This is a secondary analysis of household data for 10,422 young women aged 15–24 years collected during the 2015–16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). The sample was weighted to ensure representativeness. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the demographic, social – economic and other factors that influence contraceptive use among young women. Crude Odds Ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. Results Of the 10,422 young women, 3219 used contraception representing a prevalence of 30.9%. The findings indicate that age, region of residence, marital status, education, religion, work status, a visit to health facility, and knowledge of the ovulatory cycle are significant predictors of contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. Women who were in the age group 20–24 years (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.73–2.16), working (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.14–1.39), currently married (AOR = 6.26; 95% CI = 5.46–7.18), knowledgeable about their ovulatory cycle (AOR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.50–2.05), and those with primary education (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.18–1.83) were more likely to use contraceptives than their counterparts. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that several social demographic and economic factors are associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. These findings should be considered and reflected in public health policies to address issues that could be barriers to the use of contraception by young women. Strengthening access to family planning information and services for young women is highly recommended to reduce pregnancies among young women in Malawi. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:58:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d215322d68cb4227963acceb8d898a25 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-7426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:58:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Contraception and Reproductive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d215322d68cb4227963acceb8d898a252022-12-22T01:53:26ZengBMCContraception and Reproductive Medicine2055-74262018-09-01311810.1186/s40834-018-0065-xFactors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey dataChrispin Mandiwa0Bernadetta Namondwe1Andrew Makwinja2Collins Zamawe3Ministry of Health, South–West Zone Health Support OfficeUniversity of Malawi, Kamuzu College of NursingUniversity of Malawi, College of MedicineUniversity College London, Institute for Global HealthAbstract Background Although Malawi is one of the countries with highest Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) in Sub–Saharan Africa, pregnancies and fertility among young women remain high. This suggests low up take of contraceptives by young women. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. Methods This is a secondary analysis of household data for 10,422 young women aged 15–24 years collected during the 2015–16 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). The sample was weighted to ensure representativeness. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the demographic, social – economic and other factors that influence contraceptive use among young women. Crude Odds Ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. Results Of the 10,422 young women, 3219 used contraception representing a prevalence of 30.9%. The findings indicate that age, region of residence, marital status, education, religion, work status, a visit to health facility, and knowledge of the ovulatory cycle are significant predictors of contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. Women who were in the age group 20–24 years (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.73–2.16), working (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.14–1.39), currently married (AOR = 6.26; 95% CI = 5.46–7.18), knowledgeable about their ovulatory cycle (AOR = 1.75; 95% CI = 1.50–2.05), and those with primary education (AOR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.18–1.83) were more likely to use contraceptives than their counterparts. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that several social demographic and economic factors are associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi. These findings should be considered and reflected in public health policies to address issues that could be barriers to the use of contraception by young women. Strengthening access to family planning information and services for young women is highly recommended to reduce pregnancies among young women in Malawi.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40834-018-0065-xContraceptive useYoung womenFamily planningMalawi |
| spellingShingle | Chrispin Mandiwa Bernadetta Namondwe Andrew Makwinja Collins Zamawe Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data Contraception and Reproductive Medicine Contraceptive use Young women Family planning Malawi |
| title | Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data |
| title_full | Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data |
| title_short | Factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in Malawi: analysis of the 2015–16 Malawi demographic and health survey data |
| title_sort | factors associated with contraceptive use among young women in malawi analysis of the 2015 16 malawi demographic and health survey data |
| topic | Contraceptive use Young women Family planning Malawi |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40834-018-0065-x |
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