Predictors of Willingness to Use Modern Contraceptives among female undergraduate students in a tertiary institution in Nigeria: The Health Belief Approach

Abstract

Background: More than half of unintended pregnancies in Nigeria end in induced abortion. Unsafe abortion from unintended pregnancies contributes significantly to maternal mortality in Nigeria. Modern contraceptives have proven useful in preventing unintended pregnancy. The health belief model is a comprehensive tool that can be used to predict contraceptive behaviour. It provides a theoretical framework that gives better understanding of how individual beliefs affect contraceptive behaviour. This study determined the predictors of willingness to use modern contraceptives among female undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife from the perspective of the health belief model.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 female undergraduates selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using pretested self-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS Version 25. Chi square test was used for association while logistic regression was used to determine the predictors. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of respondents was 21.4±2.4 years. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 9.2%. Majority of the respondents 268 (79.3%) were willing to use contraceptives. The most commonly used modern contraceptive was oral pills 289 (68.5%). Perceived benefit (AOR=0.32, 95%CI=0.17-0.63, p=0.001), perceived severity (AOR=0.48, 95%CI=0.44-0.89, p=0.004) and perceived self-efficacy (AOR=0.41, 95%CI=0.22-0.78, p=0.006) were predictors of willingness to contraceptive use.

Conclusion: Although willingness to use modern contraceptives was high, the actual use of contraceptives was low. Health education programs and improvement of access to different contraceptive methods can improve un-met need for contraception among respondents.