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Postpartum contraceptive use among low-income urban women: insights from Accra, Ghana

Caesar Agula, Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana
Elizabeth G. Henry, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Patrick Asuming, University of Ghana
Akua Obeng-Dwamena, Population Council
Theophilus Toprah, Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS)
Charles Asabere, University of Ghana, Regional Institute for Population Studies
Martin Wiredu Agyekum, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA, GHANA
Iqbal Shah, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Ayaga A. Bawah, University of Ghana

Postpartum contraceptives use (PPC) reduces unintended pregnancies and result in better health outcomes for children and women. However, in Ghana, paucity of knowledge exist on PPC use at the population level, particularly among women in low-income urban settings. To shed light on strategies that might enhance access to postpartum services in low-income urban settings, we examined the prevalence of contraceptive use among postpartum women in Accra, Ghana, at one, three and six months following live birth and the methods predominantly used. The predictors of modern contraceptive use in the 12 months postpartum period were determined and analysed. Results show that 40% of postpartum women never used any contraceptive method in the one-year period after birth and of those who used a method, 40% used traditional methods. Moreover, 29% of women started using a method in the immediate one month post-birth. Results further show that postpartum modern contraceptive uptake was positively associated with higher education, having more live births and being currently in a union. These findings should be considered for the design and implementation of programmatic strategies in health facilities to improve the quality of counselling during ANC and PNC visits by clients and generally enhance PPC use.

Keywords: Family planning and contraception, Urbanization and urban populations

See paper.

  Presented in Session 196. Postpartum Contraceptive Needs and Use