Prevalence and Determinants of Contraceptive Utilization among Women in the Reproductive Age Group in Ethiopia

Despite the huge advantages of family planning programs, contraception use in Ethiopia remains low. Determining the magnitude and associated factors of contraceptive utilization helps to take action for further improvement. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify determinants of using contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia.

The 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2019 (EMDHS 2019) dataset was utilized in this population-based investigation. In the current study, 8885 reproductive-age women were included. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine significant factors associated with the utilization of contraceptive methods. The analysis was done using SPSS software version 20.

The prevalence of contraceptive utilization amongst women's reproductive age in Ethiopia was 37.6%. Of all contraceptive users, a large number of women, 57.0%, used injectable kinds of contraceptives followed by implants (24.3%). Participants aged 20-29 (AOR = 2.32, 95%CI: 1.79-3.01) and aged 30-39 years (AOR = 3.12, 95%CI: 2.58-3.78); from Addis Ababa (AOR = 3.27, 95%CI:2.42-4.43), Dire Dawa (AOR = 2.96, 95%CI:2.28-3.84), and urban residence (AOR = 2.49, 95%CI:2.13-2.91); who had secondary education level 1.391(AOR = 1.14-1.70), diploma and above (AOR = 1.39, 95%CI:1.12-1.72); being in rich wealth index (AOR = 1.260, 95%CI:1.06-1.50); having five or more children (AOR = 1.37, 95%CI:1.17-1.61); and who had knowledge about contraceptives (AOR = 1.88, 95%CI:1.42-2.48) and being married (AOR = 5.82, 95%CI: 4.60-7.36) had higher odds of utilizing contraceptives, while women aged 40-49 years (AOR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.89-0.96) and from residential region of Oromia (AOR = 0.516, 95%CI: 0.40-0.67), Somalia (AOR = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.38-0.62) and Benishangul (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.40-0.70) had lower odds of using contraception.

The study concluded that the use of contraceptives remained very low (found below the national target) in Ethiopia. Factors like age, educational level, number of children, and region of the women, religion, wealth index, and marital status are determinant factors associated with contraceptive use among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. For a more successful intervention approach that encourages the use of contraceptive methods, these variables should be considered.