Factors affecting contraceptive use in Ghana

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing contraceptive use is crucial for reproductive health initiatives.
• Demographic and Health Surveys provide valuable data on family planning behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between demographic/socioeconomic variables and current contraceptive use in Ghana.
• To identify key predictors of contraceptive uptake among married women of reproductive age.

Main Methods:

• Logistic regression analysis was employed.
• Data from 3156 currently married women aged 15-49 from the 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Respondents' approval of family planning was the strongest predictor of current contraceptive use.
• Discussion of family planning with a partner and educational attainment also significantly influenced contraceptive use.
• Female education, particularly up to the secondary level, showed a positive association with contraceptive use.

Conclusions:

• Family planning approval and spousal communication are vital for increasing contraceptive use.
• Intensified information, education, and communication (IEC) programs are recommended, with a focus on rural populations.
• Prioritizing female secondary education is a key policy recommendation to enhance family planning uptake.