CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICES AND DETERMINANTS OF CURRENT CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract Background: Contraceptive use is poor among women innorthern Nigeria, but it is agreed that regulating fertility goesalong with socioeconomic development. It is therefore importantto identify the determinants of contraceptive use in Borno stateand utilise this for planning and advocacy.Method: The subjects were women of reproductive age living inurban as well as rural settings in Borno State, northeasternNigeria. Questionnaires were administered enquiring about theirsocio-demographic characteristics and contraceptive practices.Logistic regression analysis was use to construct a model forsignificant determinants of contraceptive use.Results: There were 532 respondents, with a mean age of29.5+7.9 years and a mean parity of 3.4+3.0. Although 77.6%were educated, 68.4% were unemployed. One hundred andseventy five participants (32.9%) had 4 or more living childrenwhile 15.4% had no living child. In 15% of the cases, thehusbands have no formal education. Eighty (33.8%) of therespondent were married into polygamous setting out of which 36(20%) have 3 co-wives. The prevalence of current contraceptiveuse was 29.1% and majority of the clients (38.7%) used pills.Previous contraceptives counselling and education were found tobe the strongest determinants of contraceptives use.Conclusion: Making contraceptives counselling routine in allour gynaecological consultation and women empowermentthrough girl child education may help in the improvement ofcontraception utilisation. Further research is needed to addressthe men and co-wives issue with regard to family planning in ourenvironment. Author Affiliations:Corresponding Author:Keywords:*Department of Obstetrics andGynaecology University of MaiduguriTeaching Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria** Department of Obstetrics andGynaecology Federal Medical CentreNguru, Nigeria.Dr AD GEIDAMDepartment of Obstetrics andGynaecology University of MaiduguriTeaching Hospital PMB 1414,Maiduguri Borno State, Nigeria.E-mail: adogeidam@yahoo.comBOMJ, Vol. 4, No. 2, July-December 2007. 12CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICES AND DETERMINANTSOF CURRENT CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA.Contraceptives; Borno state;Prevalence; Determinants.