Factors Associated with the Use of Modern Contraceptive Methods by Women of Childbearing Age in Parakou in 2017 ()
1. Introduction
Benin is characterized by a high maternal and infant/child mortality but also a high birth rate with a composite fertility index (CFI) of 4.9 children per woman [1] . Its economic fabric still embryonic does not make it possible to meet the basic needs of populations [1] . Effectively used, it is proven that contraception can not only contribute to reduce maternal mortality but it can also limit the high growth rate of population in Africa and thus promote development [2] [3] [4] . But in spite of these proven advantages for communities, it was found that only 9% of women of childbearing age (WCBA) used a modern contraceptive method (MCM) according to the results of Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS-VI) in 2012 [1] . The factors limiting its use are not identified yet. So, this study’s purpose is to determine the factors associated with the use of modern contraceptive methods by women of childbearing age in Parakou in 2017.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Type of Study and Collection Period
It was a cross-sectional and descriptive study with an analytical purpose and prospective data collection which was carried out over a three-month (3) period from April 1st to June 30th 2017.
2.2. Target Population
It consisted of all the WCBA of the municipality of Parakou in 2017.
2.2.1. Inclusion Criteria
Were involved in our study, WCBA (15 to 49 years old) who resided permanently in Parakou for at least 6 months and who gave their free and informed consent.
2.2.2. Exclusion Criteria
Were not involved in our study, people with mental illnesses, pregnant women, women in early menopause, women who could not have children (bilateral salpingectomy, uterine agenesis, uterine malformation, hemostasis hysterectomy).
2.3. Sampling
2.3.1. Sample Size
The sample size is obtained using Schwartz formula: N = kZα2p (1-p)/ i2.
With a 14% contraceptive prevalence in Benin (BDHS-IV); a p-value (α) of 0.05 that is to say Zα=1.96; a desired accuracy (i) of 3% and a cluster effect (k) of 2.
N = (1.96)2 × 0.14 × 0.86 × 2/(0.03)2 = 1027.8414222 ≈ 1028 subjects.
This size was increased by 10% to take account of non-respondents and possible poorly completed forms.
2.3.2. Sampling Technique
The study was conducted according to a 2-degree cluster effect survey technique. The sampling frame was composed of the list of 106 neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods in the municipality of Parakou with their respective target populations. We chose to take 30 clusters, as suggested by WHO. The size of each cluster was 37.7 ≈ 38 (1131/30) individuals.
The selection of the thirty clusters was made as follows:
1) The realization of the table of the cumulative target population (the cumulative total population is 49,743).
2) The determination of the cluster step. It was obtained by dividing the cumulative total population by 30 (the cluster step obtained is 1658).
3) Determination of the beginning (d): We drew a number between 1 and the cluster step thanks to the software epi table (the number pulled is d = 100).
4) This number allowed us to determine the first cluster.
5) The second cluster was obtained by adding to number (d) the step of cluster.
Draw of concessions:
In each cluster drawn, the interviewer placed himself in the center of the district and drew lots of direction (either by the method of bottle or turned pen). In this direction, the investigator had entered a concession on two starting with his right with each new result we added the step of cluster until we get the 30 clusters.
Selection of households by concession and subject to survey by household:
1) Within the selected concessions, the households were in turn numbered and half of the households were randomly drawn.
2) In each selected household, a subject was drawn from the list of eligible subjects present in the household when the collection team passed.
3) If the number required for the cluster was not obtained in this direction, the investigator returned to the center of the district to choose another direction with the same method.
2.4. Variables
2.4.1. Dependent Variables
The dependent variable was the use of MCM. It is a modality qualitative binary variable (Yes/No). By MCM, we referred to the following methods: femidon, condom, pill, injectable, implant, intrauterine device (IUD), spermicide, tubal sterilization, vasectomy because they were the only ones to be mentioned by the WCBA.
2.4.2. Independent Variables
We considered the following factors predictive of the use of MCM: age, place of residence, ethnic group, religion, socio-professional group, educational level, socio-economic level, marital status, household type, parity, gestity, level of knowledge, perception of WCBA, spouse’s opinion, discussion with the spouse and the knowledge of the existence of FP services.
The assessment criteria of the WCBA’s level of knowledge was inspired from the model of Essi et al. [5] . So, 4 levels of knowledge were defined: poor, insufficient, average and good.
1) <25% of right answers = Poor.
2) [25% - 50% [of right answers = Insufficient.
3) [50% - 70% [of right answers = Average.
4) ≥70% of right answers = Good.
2.5. Data Collection Tools
Data were collected during a personal interview on the basis of a prepared questionnaire administered to all the women involved in the survey.
Data collection procedure:
1) Interviewer training: There were six (06) interviewers with good knowledge of the local language trained by ABPF to raise awareness about FP.
2) A pre-test was done in an unsuccessful neighborhood.
3) The investigation phase itself: it had been spread over a period of three months (01 April to 30 June 2017).
2.6. Data Processing and Analysis
The data collected were stored with EPI Data 3.1 software. Bivariate analysis was carried out by means of Epi Info 7.1 software. Multivariate analysis was performed by means of SPSS version 2.0 software. Microsoft Excel 2016 helped to organize the data in tabular and graphic forms. Quantitative variables were expressed in the form of averages with their standard deviation. When intersecting two qualitative variables or comparing two percentages, Chi-square test (or Fisher exact test according to the case) and p-value had been used. We admit that there is a statistically significant association between two variables for any probability below 5%.Prevalence ratio (PR) and Odds ratio (OR) were presented with their Confidence Intervals (CI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors which were associated with the use of MCM. Outputs for logistic regression were presented as Odds Ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). CI not crossing one was assumed to be significant.
3. Results
In total, we surveyed 1140 WCBA. The WCBA’s average age was 29 ± 5.6 years. The major part of the women were Beninese (99.04%) and resided in an urban area (80%). Most of them belonged to the Bariba ethnic group (33.33%) and Fon related ethnic group (27.11%) practicing Islam (56%). The women surveyed were mostly traders/retailers (30%). They were not educated (25.35%) or had primary school level (32.81%) and an average socioeconomic level (52.02%). They were married in 58.68% of cases and lived in a monogamous household for most of them (47.54%). The number of pregnancies ranged from 0 to 11 with an average of 3 ± 1.9. The WCBA surveyed were mainly pauciparous (38.07%) and multiparous (24.3%).
They used modern contraceptive methods in 14.74% of cases and injectable contraceptives were mostly used (Table 1). The main reasons for the non-use of MCM by the WCBA surveyed in the municipality of Parakou were side effects (47.07%), the spouse’s unfavorable opinion (25.61%, the desire to have a child (22.11%) and the ignorance of MCM (12.96%).
More than half of the women surveyed had an average level of knowledge. The main sources of information were the media (75.84%) and parents/friends (74.63%) (Table 2). The most known advantage was to avoid unwanted pregnancies (98.09%) by these WCBA. The most identified side effects were metrorrhagia (76.21%), obesity (70.77%) and amenorrhea (55.56%). Half of the women surveyed perceived MCM as a bad thing because of religious considerations. We find that 25.88% of the women surveyed had asserted that their spouses were not in favor of contraception and they never discussed this matter with them.So, they almost always comply with their opinions.
The educational level; OR 6.4; IC [3.52 -.11.63], P < 0.001, the perception of woman; OR 12.78; IC [8.36 - 19.54] P < 0,001. The spouse’s favorable opinion; OR 3.29; IC [2.23 - 4.96], P < 0.001, the discussion with the spouse; OR 6.54; IC [3.86 - 11.07], P < 0.001. the level of knowledge of MCM and the knowledge of the existence of FP services; OR 11,38; IC [5.56 - 23.30], P < 0.001 et 8.75 [4.41 - 17.35], P < 0.001.as regards modern contraceptive methods appeared as factors associated with the use of MCM after multivariate analysis (Table 3).
4. Discussion
The average age of the WCBA involved in our study was 29 ± 5.6 years old with extremes of 15 and 46 years old. This result is similar to those of Olamijulo et al.
Table 1. Distribution of WCBA surveyed according to the use of MCM and their type (Parakou 2017; N = 1140).
Table 2. Distribution of WCBA surveyed according to their level of knowledge of MCM (Parakou 2017; N = 1140).
Table 3. Multivariate analysis of factors associated with the use of MCM (Parakou 2017; N = 1140).
in Nigeria in 2012 and Traoré in Mali in 2008 in their studies carried out on populations. They had respectively found average ages of 30.86 ± 7.54 years old, 29.9 years old and 28 ± 7.8 years old [6] [7] . The average age of the respondents was similar to what some authors report in Africa [1] [8] [9] .
In our study, the modern contraceptive prevalence was 14.74% as against 19 % in Senegal and 11% in Nigeria [8] [10] . This contraceptive prevalence in Parakou is currently within the limits of average prevalence in West Africa and has increased compared with the national average in 2006 which was 6% [1] . The strategic support given by technical and financial partners in the form of performance-based incentive has helped to improve this prevalence which varies according to methods. Injectable contraceptives were the most used as in Mali (52%) in 2010 and in Senegal (55.6%) in 2012 [7] [8] . This preference for injectable contraception is indicative of a context in which are associated the spouse’s refusal, stigmatization of users, guarantee of confidentiality, very little constraint for the user and absence of the risk of oblivion. This level of utilization of modern contraception in Parakou could be improved if there are no limiting factors such as the fear of side effects, the spouses’ unfavorable opinion, the desire to have a child and the ignorance of methods. The same factors were identified as determinants of the use of modern contraceptive methods in Africa and the world [7] [8] [9] [10] . So, 91% and 70% of good knowledge were reported in MBACKE’s series in Senegal and Matungulu’s ones in Congo [8] [9] against average knowledge of 62.8% in our series. The various awareness strategies and methods of knowledge assessment could account for these differences in the level of knowledge with regard to our results. Furthermore, the low educational level of the WCBA surveyed can be the reason for the poor knowledge of these women. In most cases, the level of knowledge was statistically in connection with the use of MCM in literature [9] [10] [11] . Thus, it seems necessary to improve the level of knowledge of these women by strengthening awareness campaigns directed to users who would become reliable and effective channels for a better promotion of modern contraception within communities. To reach the targets better, it is important to associate proximity campaigns performed by well-trained community links with mass campaigns devolved to the media in national languages without neglecting counseling which should precede the choice of a method. Similarly, the integrated practice of family planning services with other health services increases the chance to receive information about contraception [9] . Moreover, there was a significant statistical link between the perception and the attitude of WCBA with regard to MCM in our study as in those of Alemayehu in Ethiopia in 2012 [12] and Hotchkiss in Kenya in 2013 [13] .
So, the perception of MCM by the women surveyed was bad in 50% of cases ; similar results to those of MBACKE in Senegal [9] and Ouattarain Côte d’Ivoire in 2012 [14] who had reported that the majority of women perceived MCM as a bad thing. This bad perception determined their attitude to MCM whose consequence was their low use [9] [15] . The very foundation of this low use remains the unfavorable opinion of the spouse for 25% of partners whose spouse took that into account in 72.72% of cases. Moreover, these women had no discussion with their spouse about MCM in 34.39% of cases. But, it is found in literature that women’s discussions with their spouse was linked to the use of MCM [15] . Matungulu et al. in Congo in 2015 had observed that women who seldom or often had discussions with their partners, were respectively six and three times more likely inclined to use MCM than those who never had discussions [13] . In Ghana, Oheneba-Sakyi in 2014 had shown that women who used MCM were those who discussed family planning with spouses in favor of planning [15] . The same observation was made in several African countries [16] [17] [18] [19] . It is therefore essential to have discussions within couples to convince partners of the usefulness of MCM or at least incite them to participate in the various awareness campaigns about the issue. It seems crucial in our African societies where men still have the decision-making power totally. To achieve this end, it is important to develop and implement a communication strategy integrating men and women through services which provide family planning supplies. The fear of side effects was an obstacle to the use of MCM in this study as mentioned in a study carried out in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo [20] . Insufficient counseling in family planning during consultations leads to rumors about these side effects which are increased and misrepresented and thus, reducing the adherence of WCBA to MCM. This issue must be taken into consideration by healthcare providers during healthcare provision related to family planning.
5. Study Limitations
The scope of the study was limited to the factors associated with the use of MCAs by women of childbearing age in the city of Parakou and not contraception in general; what we recommend for future research. This study could, however, include an information bias because of the method of questioning the women surveyed which is the one to one interview with the interviewers. Indeed, because of the sensitivity of the subject, there may be women who have not answered the question frankly. However, their number would be limited because of the explanations provided to the respondents before the start of the interview
6. Conclusions
The level of utilization still remains low. Any effort to increase modern contraceptive prevalence should take into account the educational level, the perception of woman, the spouse’s favorable opinion, the discussion with the spouse, the level of knowledge of FP services in order to optimize the use of MCM in the municipality of Parakou in Benin.In order to mitigate the effects of its disadvantages on the use of CMC by women of childbearing age in the city of Parakou, it is necessary to:
1) Strengthen sex education and reproductive health programs in schools (middle and high schools),
2) Encourage family planning programming through the media,
3) Intensify the promotion of family planning during pre-natal, post-natal and pre-school counseling.
4) Create and train community relays in family planning in women’s and men’s groups
5) Promote communication within the couple.