Factors associated with contraceptive use among sexually active black women in South Africa

Abstract

Contraception is an effective approach to family size control and has positive impact on maternal and child health. High contraceptive prevalence rate has been reported in South Africa, but the rate is lower among Black women than other racial groups. There is dearth of studies on the relationship between socio-demographic factors and contraceptive use among black women in South Africa. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the prevalence and identify predictors of contraceptive use among sexually active Black women in South Africa. The study relied on cross-sectional data from the South African Demographic and Health Survey 2016 and focused on black South African women of reproductive age (n=8514). Contraception was measured with information on whether the respondents used any contraceptive method during their last sexual encounter prior to the data collection exercise for this study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and binary logistics regression model (α =0.05)". The bivariate results of this study has revealed that independent variables such as current marital status, current age of women, highest educational level, province, sex of household head, birth in the past year, fertility preference and children ever born had all shown a statistically significant association on women's use of contemporary contraceptives, however, the results also revealed that there was no statistical significant between contraceptive use and some variables including type of place of residence and respondents working status. Additionally, the multivariate results showed that six variables are the critical determinants of modern contraceptive use - current age of women but only those who are ages (25-29, 40-44 and 45-49), province but only (Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, Gauteng, and Limpopo), highest level of education but only at (secondary level and higher level), birth in the past year, current marital status but only for (women who were currently married and those living with a partner but not married), fertility preference but only for (women who reported to not wanting children anymore and those who were declared infecund), and children ever born. From the results this study we can conclude that contraceptive use amongst Black women in South Africa is lower. It is therefore recommended that programmes and policy that aim to raise and promote awareness of family planning services in South Africa especially among Black women, should be introduced. Specific awareness must be tailored for specific aged

groups, with young people especially important here, given that the level of contraceptive use is lower among them.