Prevalence and Barriers to Contraceptive Uptake among Reproductive Age Women in Achi, Enugu State, Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Contraceptives are methods used to prevent pregnancies because of coitus. It is a major determinant of pregnancy and birth rates worldwide. Nigeria, like many other developing countries has a low prevalence rate of contraception, hence, the need to improve awareness and availability of modern contraceptives to reduce the unmet need and avail our women the opportunity to enjoy the numerous benefits derivable from it. Aim: To determine the prevalence, awareness and barriers to contraceptive uptake among the rural women. Materials & Method: It was a cross-sectional study of women of reproductive age in Achi. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit respondents from the communities in the town. A questionnaire administered by the interviewer was used to collect relevant data, which was subsequently analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 computer software for Windows. The result was presented using tables, means and percentages. Result: Four hundred and twenty two (422) women were recruited into the study. Majority of them were 25-29 years (34.6%) whereas the least were 15-19 years (4.33%) of this number, 68.2% had secondary education and majority of them farmers (27.5%). About 40% were orthodox Christians and the rest Catholics and Pentecostals. Also, 316 (74.9%) of the women did not use any contraceptive method giving us a contraceptive prevalence of 25.1%. Two hundred and eight (49.3%) had 3 to 4 surviving children while only 43 (0.2%) had no child. Most the women on contraceptives used injectables,(11.1%), 4.7% used implants and only 0.2% used oral pills. Of the possible reasons for non-acceptance considered majority had fear of carcinogenesis 133(31.5%), followed by husbands’ opposition 110(26.1%) while 19(4.5%) considered contraceptives unhealthy. Conclusion: There is still a low prevalence of contraception in Achi suggesting a high burden of unmet contraceptive needs. Efforts should be channelled towards unravelling the remote and immediate causes of the low prevalence so as to proffer a lasting solution to the problem.