Background and Objectives: Despite various efforts towards addressing low modern contraceptive use among women in Nigeria, modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) remains very low, estimated at 18% in 2021. However, much of the literature have generalise modern contraceptive use among all women using age as an explanatory variable. Thus, this study seeks to examine if mCPR differ according to age groups by comparing predictors among young women (15-24 years) with older women (25-34 years).
Material and Methods: A secondary analysis of the three most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) datasets was performed by pooling the three survey datasets together (2008, 2013, and 2018). Analysis of data from each round of survey was restricted to currently married women living with their partner, had given birth to at least a child last 5 years preceding each survey, not pregnant, not breastfeeding and sexually active last four weeks preceding the survey. The weighted sample size for the study was 9,705 women: (2018=3,714, 2013=3,315 and 2008=2,676). The outcome variable was non-use of modern contraceptive, while binary logistic regression was performed.
Results: the study found differentials in factors associated with non-use of modern contraceptives among young and older married women. Variation in non-use of modern contraceptive among both age groups are pregnancy termination history, autonomy, exposure to family planning messages and husband's desire for more children, which were significant among older women. However, important predictors of non-use of modern contraceptives for both age groups are household wealth, place of residence, region, religion, partners education, knowledge of modern contraceptives and high fertility desire.
Conclusion: Addressing barriers to modern contraceptive use among young and older women in Nigeria will no doubt requires a rigorous approach and also suggest the need for strategies targeting specific age groups.
