Factors Influencing Contraceptive Use Among Adolescents in Techiman Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Purpose: To determine factors influencing contraceptive use among adolescents in Techiman Municipality, Ghana. Method: An analytical cross-sectional community-based study conducted among 16-19year-old sexually active adolescents from January-March, 2018. Participants were selected through multi-stage sampling and data collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using chi-squared test for categorical variables. Factors associated with contraceptive use were assessed using logistic regression to generate crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Altogether, 298 sexually active adolescents were studied. The mean age was 17.5 years (standard deviation 1.1 years). About 53% were out-of-school adolescents. About 44% of adolescents were sexually active at the time of the research, with outof-school adolescents being more likely to be sexually active (53.8% vs. 32.1%; p<0.001). Contraceptive knowledge and ever use were 75.0% and 65% respectively. The most commonly used contraceptives were condoms (54%) and emergency contraception (31%). Significant factors influencing contraceptive use were; father’s educational level (AOR4.86; 95% CI 1.70 – 13.91; p<0.001) and prior discussion of contraceptive use with partner (AOR 3.96; 95% CI 1.32 – 11.89; p=0.01). Conclusion: Contraceptive use was high, but less than 10% relied on LARCs. Strategies for improving LARC uptake among adolescents should be investigated