Postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptives use in sub-Saharan Africa. Evidence from recent demographic and health surveys data

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 10; p. e0291571
• Main Authors: Asmamaw, Desale Bihonegn, Belachew, Tadele Biresaw, Fetene, Samrawit Mihret, Addis, Banchlay, Amare, Tsegaw, Kidie, Atitegeb Abera, Endawkie, Abel, Zegeye, Alebachew Ferede, Tamir, Tadesse Tarik, Wubante, Sisay Maru, Fentie, Elsa Awoke, Negash, Wubshet Debebe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 09.10.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Birth control; Births; Contraceptives; Data analysis; Demographics; Demography; Developing countries; Ethics; Evaluation; Family planning; GNI; Gross National Income; Health aspects; Health care industry; Health services; Health surveys; Households; Income; Independent variables; Information management; LDCs; Low income areas; Mass media; Maternal & child health; Maternal health services; Maternal mortality; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Oral contraceptives; Postpartum; Postpartum period; Pregnancy; Puerperium; Regression analysis; Regression models; Surveys; Womens health; Sub-Saharan Africa; Kenya; Ethiopia; Rwanda; Angola; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291571

In developing countries, most women want to avoid pregnancy for two years after giving birth. However, 70% do not use contraceptives during this time. Unintended pregnancies may occur for couples who delay contraceptive use during the postpartum period. The most effective form of contraceptive methods for postpartum women is long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC). Therefore, this study aimed to assess long-acting reversible contraceptive use and associated factors among postpartum women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Secondary data analysis was performed using the recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Stata version 14 was used to analyze the data. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with long-acting reversible contraceptive use. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model were declared significant factors associated with long-acting reversible contraceptives. The magnitude of long-acting reversible contraceptive use among postpartum women was 12.6% (95% CI: 12.3, 12.8). Women primary (aOR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.41, 1.63) and secondary education (aOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.71), media exposure (aOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.51, 1.85), place of delivery (aOR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.43, 1.67), number of ANC visit; 1-3 (aOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 2.31, 2.83) and [greater than or equal to]4 (aOR = 3.22; 95% CI: 2.93, 3.57), received PNC (aOR = 1.34; 95%CI: 1.13, 1.58), and income level; low middle income (aOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 2.11, 2.88) and upper middle income (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.56, 1.24) were significantly associated with long-acting reversible contractive use. Nearly one in 10 postpartum women used long-acting reversible contraceptives. Hence, we suggest that the concerned bodies should promote family planning messages in mass media and give the well-documented benefits of postpartum long-acting contraceptive use. Promote the integration of postpartum LARC methods into maternal health care services and give better attention to postpartum women living in low-income countries and uneducated women.