Influence of Household Wealth Status on Uptake of Short-Acting and Long-Acting Contraceptives among in-Union Women in Nigeria, 2003-2018

Abstract

Uptake of short-acting and long-acting contraceptives among in-union women stagnated in Nigeria in the last two decades. Little information is available about how household wealth status has influenced this stagnation. Hence, this study analysed the 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data to address this gap. The analysis involved descriptive and logistic regression techniques at bivariate and multivariate levels. The results suggest the uptake of short-acting and long-acting contraceptives did not improve between 2003 and 2018. Long-acting contraceptive uptake was much lower during the period. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses indicated that household wealth status significantly and positively predicted uptake of short-acting and long-acting contraceptives in Nigeria (p<0.05). Women in wealthier households had higher odds of reporting short-acting and long-acting contraceptives than their counterparts in households with lower wealth status. Therefore, to realise  sustainable improvement in family planning uptake in Nigeria, it is imperative for the government at all levels to adopt an integrative family planning policy. This type of policy is predicated upon the symbiotic  relationship between social development to enhance economic and social development to leapfrog poor households into better wealth statuses and promote both family planning and social development.