Knowledge, attitude and determinants of post-abortion contraceptive use among women of reproductive age seeking care in healthcare facilities in Ile-Ife, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Post-abortion contraception is the commencement of the chosen contraception method immediately after or within 48 hours of an abortion episode. It is a key strategy for the reduction of unintended pregnancies and repeated abortion.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude towards post-abortion contraception and examine the determinants of post-abortion contraceptive use among women of reproductive age seeking care in healthcare facilities in Ile-Ife.

Design: The study was a facility-based descriptive cross-sectional survey which employed a quantitative method.

Method: The study was conducted among women of reproductive age who have had abortion and are seeking care in the family planning units of healthcare facilities in Ile- Ife. 285 respondents were recruited for the study using a two-stage sampling technique. A pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analysed using IBM Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS) version 23. Three levels of analyses were carried out-univariate, bivariate and multivariate-to determine the frequencies of variables and summary statistics, the association between awareness and knowledge of post-abortion contraception, attitude as well as post-abortion contraceptive use and to identify factors influencing post-abortion contraception use. The level of significance was determined at a p value of less than 0.05.

Results: 53% had adequate knowledge of post-abortion contraception. 22% of the women had used or accepted the use of post-abortion contraceptives. The factors influencing post-abortion contraception use were educational status, socio-economic status, number of pregnancies and number of living children. The study concluded that post-abortion contraception use was low among women of reproductive age seeking abortion services.

Conclusion: The study concluded that post-abortion contraceptive use was low among women of reproductive age seeking abortion services. There is a need for increased knowledge of the importance of post-abortion contraception through community awareness and mass media. Further research on follow-up discontinuation rates of post-abortion contraception use should be investigated.