Modern contraceptives use among women of reproductive age analysis of 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract

This research investigates various factors influencing contraceptive use, utilizing data from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), focusing on demographic and socioeconomic influences. The main objective was to analyze these factors, with specific aims including examining demographic influences, evaluating socio-economic impacts, and exploring reasons for low uptake. Data was extracted from Uganda Bureau of Statistics’ website (UBOS) and it includes 18,506 eligible women that were interviewed from the 20,880 selected households. Univariate analysis, Bivariate analysis including Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were done. The findings reveal that 35% of women were using modern contraceptives, while 65% were not. Significant demographic factors influencing use include age, marital status, and type of place of residence. Women aged 25-29 and 30-34 had higher usage rates of 39.1% and 39.0%, respectively, compared to other age groups (p < 0.01). Socio-economic factors were notable, with women with higher education correlating with increased use (odds ratio = 2.008, p < 0.01). Literate women who can read whole sentence also showed higher usage rates (31.6%) compared to those that cannot read at all that had 26.1% usage. In conclusion, the study finds that increasing educational attainment and addressing socioeconomic barriers are crucial for improving contraceptive uptake. Recommendations include enhancing educational programs, and improving accessibility in rural areas. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to track changes in contraceptive use over time and explore the impact of specific interventions. Identifying and targeting underlying socio-cultural and economic barriers remains vital for designing effective family planning strategies.

Keywords: Modern contraceptives, Uganda, demographic factors, socio-economic influences, cultural barriers, family planning