Current use of contraceptive method among women in a middle-income developing country

Original Research

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Authors: Paul A Bourne, Christopher AD Charles, Tazhmoye V Crawford, et al

Published Date June 2010 Volume 2010:1 Pages 39 - 49

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S11551

Paul A Bourne¹, Christopher AD Charles^2,3, Tazhmoye V Crawford⁴, Maureen D Kerr-Campbell⁵, Cynthia G Francis¹, Neva South-Bourne¹

¹Department of Community Health and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica; ²King Graduate School, Monroe College, Bronx, New York, USA; ³Center for Victim Support, Harlem Hospital Center, New York; ⁴Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, ⁵Systems Development Unit, Main Library, Faculty of Humanities and Education, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Background: Jamaica is a mid-range income developing country with an increasing population and public resource constraints. Therefore, reproductive health issues are of critical importance in Jamaica.

Aim: We examined the use of contraceptives among women and the factors that influence these women to use contraceptives.

Materials and method: In the current study we utilized the secondary dataset for the Reproductive Health Survey, conducted by the National Family Planning Board. The investigation was carried out with a stratified random sample of 7168 women aged between 15 and 49. The measures included demographic variables, method of contraception used, being in a relationship, number of partners, pregnancy status, and sexual activity status, along with other variables.

Results: The majority of participants used some method of contraception (64%). The most popular method of contraception was a condom (32%). Results of a multivariate analysis suggests that the explanatory variables for the method of contraception used are age (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.98–0.99), social class (OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73–0.95), being in a relationship (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 2.80–4.02), the rural–urban dichotomy (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.32), being currently pregnant (OR = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00–0.02), currently having sex (OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.95–2.70), number of partners (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.57–2.17), the age at which the women began using a contraceptive (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.00), and crowding (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.21–1.60).

Conclusion: The findings are far-reaching and can be of use for aid policy formulation and intervention.

Keywords: contraception, contraceptive methods, women, mid-range income, developing country

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