Factors that determine utilization of modern contraceptives in East, Central and southern Africa

A cross-sectional study to determine modern contraceptives utilization among women aged between 15 and 19 years was performed between September and October, 1991 in 5 countries of East Central and Southern Africa. The study involved both rural and urban area of Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, Swaziland and Zambia. A total of 4513 women were interviewed of whom 2418 (53.6%) were from the urban areas while 2096 (46.4% were from the rural areas. The percentage distribution of contraceptive users was 33.2% in urban and 48.9% in rural areas. The proportion of users of traditional/natural contraception was 38.5%. Overall the prevalence of contraceptive use was 29.5%. Thus the natural/traditional methods were most popular in the region. The user rate of modern contraceptive methods ranged from 6.8% for Zambia to 60% for Mauritius. The study revealed that contraceptive prevalence rates were higher among women in urban areas (60%) than in rural areas (40%). The main factors influencing contraceptive use in order of importance included distance from residence to clinics, level of education attained, parity, marital status, approval by husbands/boyfriends and knowledge of family planning methods. Contraceptive use was highest in the age group of 20 to 34 years while it was lowest among young women aged 15-19 years.