Background: Improving reproductive health of young women in least developed
countries requires access to safe and effective contraceptive methods.We conducted
a study on knowledge, determinants and use of modern contraceptives among
married womeninSabonGari,Zaria-NorthernNigeria.
The study aimed to assess contraceptive knowledge, sources of information,
determinants anduse ofmodernFP.
This was a cross sectional descriptive and health facility-based study. Respondents
were selected consecutively from the out-patient clinic register of Comprehensive
HealthCentre anda structuredquestionnaire wasusedto collectdata.
Only three hundred and nine (309) questionnaires were finally analyzed out of the
350 questionnaires administered. Mean age of respondents was 32.8+9.6 years.
Majority (78 %) were Muslim, married and in monogamous union (72.2%).
Knowledge of modern FP was almost universal 97.7% even though knowledge of 2
or more methods was 55.3%. Mean number of contraceptives known by
respondents was 2. About 42.7% of respondents have ever used any contraceptive
method. The Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) was 12.3 % and the preferred
FP choice among respondents was the injectable contraceptives (5.2%). Sources of
information on FP were Nurse 42.1% and relatives/ friends 19.7%. Significant
determinants of FP current use among the respondents include age, education,
religion and type of marriage.
FP use among study participants attending the centre is low despite good
knowledge of modern contraception. Factors associated with contraceptive use
should be used as advocacy tool by all tiers of Government to organize sustained
publicity awareness campaigns in order to improve acceptability and usage.