Misconceptions and current use of contraception among women of reproductive age in six major cities in Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the determinants of family planning misconceptions and modern contraceptive use, and the influence of misconceptions on the use of modern contraceptive methods.

Methods: We reviewed and analysed data collected between October 2010 and March 2011 among a representative household sample of 13,575 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in six urban cities in Nigeria. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the predictors of misconceptions and current use of contraception and the association between misconceptions and modern contraceptive use.

Results: Catholic women were significantly more likely to have misconceptions compared with Muslim women (β = 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58, 1.60; p < .001); women with higher education were significantly less likely to have misconceptions about contraception compared with women with no formal education (β= −0.06; 95% CI −0.96, −0.29; p < .001). Unmarried women living with a partner were not significantly different from those who were not cohabiting (single, separated or widowed) in their current contraceptive use (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.91; 95% CI 0.79, 1.04; p > .05). Women with lower misconception scores were significantly more likely to adopt and use modern contraception compared with those with high misconception scores (adjusted OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.92, 0.94; p < .001).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that programmatic efforts should be geared towards dispelling misconceptions by providing simple factual information related to the benefits of contraception and family planning.

摘要

目标：本研究的目的是评估计划生育误解和现代避孕方法应用的决定因素, 以及误解对应用现代避孕方法的影响。

方法：我们回顾并分析了2010年10月至2011年3月期间在尼日利亚6个城市中13,575名育龄期女性（15-49岁）的代表性家庭样本中收集的数据。采用多元线性和logistic回归模型调查误解的预测因素和当前避孕方法的采用以及误解与现代避孕方法采用之间的关联。

结果：与穆斯林女性相比, 天主教女性更容易产生误解（β= 0.09, 95％置信区间[CI] 0.58, 1.60, p <0.001）；与没有接受过正规教育的女性相比, 受过高等教育的女性对避孕的误解显著降低（β = 0.06, 95％CI 0.96, 0.29, p <0.001）。和伴侣同住的未婚女性与非同居者（单身, 分居或丧偶）在采用避孕方面没有显著差异（调整后的比值比[OR]为0.91, 95％CI为0.79,1.04, p> 0.05）。与误解得分较高的女性相比, 误解得分较低的女性更可能采用现代避孕措施（调整后的OR 0.93, 95％CI 0.92,0.94, p <0.001）。

结论：这些研究结果表明, 应该通过有计划的努力提供与避孕和计划生育益处相关的简单事实信息来消除误解。

Keywords:

• Beliefs
• contraception
• misconception
• Nigeria
• predictors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the US Agency for International Development or the US Government.