USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES: WILLINGNESS, ATTITUDE AND PREDICTORS AMONG RURAL CHILDBEARING WOMEN IN RIVERS STATE IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA

Osaro, Benjamin O.*

ABSTRACT

Background: Willingness to use modern contraceptives is key to the decision-making process for the use of any method of contraception. This study looked at the willingness of rural women in Rivers State, Nigeria to use modern contraceptives. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 236 rural women of childbearing age selected through a multistage sampling method in Rivers State. Participants gave information on socio-demography, reproductive history, attitudes towards, willingness to use and reasons for unwillingness to use modern contraceptives. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 22 and presented using summary statistics. Predictors of willingness to use modern contraceptives was determine using Chi-square test of independence and logistic regression at P-value < 0.05. Results: Most respondents (n= 184; 78.0%)) had positive attitude towards use of modern contraceptives. Of these, 104 (56.5%) showed willingness to use modern contraceptives in the future. Number of living children, male (P = 0.0324), female (P = 0.0353), level of education (P = 0.012) and positive attitude towards modern contraceptives (P < 0.0001) were associated with willingness to use modern contraceptives. Attitude towards modern contraceptives (OR = 8.135; 95% CI = 3.281 - 20.169) and tertiary education (OR =27.038; 95% CI = 1.173 - 623.394) were also found to predict willingness to use modern contraceptives. Conclusion: Nearly half of the respondents indicated willingness to use modern contraceptives. Positive attitude and acquisition of tertiary education by respondents were predictor factors. Governments and program managers should implement strategies to improve partners participation and self-efficacy of women to practice family planning.

Keywords: Modern contraceptive use, willingness, attitude, predictors, rural women, Rivers State Nigeria.