Abstract:
Family planning is widely acknowledged as an important intervention towards
achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) three (4) and five (5) as it has proven
to reduce maternal and child mortality. Family planning can prevent unwanted
pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The aim of this study was to determine various factors
that influence the uptake of modern family planning among women of reproductive age in
South-eastern Nigeria. The study used data obtained from Nigeria Demographic and
Health Survey (NDHS) 2013. Factors considered were drawn from the dataset. Analysis
was carried out using Stata version 12.1. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was
used to determine relationship between various factors and use of modern family planning
methods. Level of significance was set at 0.05. The total number of participants in the
study was 2,816. Twelve point fifty seven percent (12.57%) of the participants were
currently using modern family planning methods. The highest proportion of use was
25.57% in Ebonyi State, while the lowest was 16.94 % in Imo State. The only identified
predictor of use of modern family planning use was educational status. The women who
had at least secondary education were almost twice (1.82 times) more likely to use
modern family planning methods than those who had only primary education or less
(OR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.4-2.4, P<0.001). Measures should be taken to increase female
literacy, as this will most likely lead to improved uptake of modern family planning
among the respondents.
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