Background: Women’s ability to determine whether and when to have children, enhances
their health, education and employment chances. Determinants of contraceptives use are key
variables in the evaluation of family planning programmes. The study assessed the
knowledge, prevalence and determinants of contraception among women of child-bearing
age (WCA) in a rural community.
Method: A total population study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional study
design among women of child-bearing age in Awuyemi community of Etsako East LGA, Edo
State, Nigeria. A pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was the tool for
data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Test of associations were carried
out using Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression was used to determine significant
predictors of contraceptive use. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Two hundred and ninety-five WCA with mean age of 27.4 ± 7.9 years participated in
the study. One hundred and seventy-seven (60.0%) of them were multiparous women. Of these,
115 (65.0%) had an average birth interval of ≤ 2 years. About one-third had ever used
contraceptives while 26.4% were current users. The commonest contraceptive used by the
respondents was condoms (33.3%). Determinants of current use of contraceptive were cost of
contraceptive (p = 0.036), informed choice (p < 0.001), and level of education (p = 0.024).
Conclusion: Contraceptive prevalence rate among the respondents was low. Determinants
of current use of contraceptive were cost of contraceptives, informed choice and level of
education and these should be used for targeted interventions by all stakeholders in
intervention programmes.