Rural- Urban Differentials in Contraceptive Use among Men in South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined contraceptive use and identified the associated factors among men in South-west, Nigeria.The study utilizedthe 2013 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS); data for 2,843 men (urban = 2,204; rural = 639)was extracted from the men recode file. The independent variables are age, place of residence, wealth index, educational attainment and religion; the dependent variable iscurrent use of contraceptive method. Analysis was carried out at the univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels using STATA 14.0. All estimates in this study were weighted appropriately and stratified by place of residence. The results showed that more than half of men were not using any contraceptives at the time of survey (65.8%) and only 24.8% were using a modern method.Higher proportion of respondents in rural area (76.1%) reported non-use of contraceptives compared to urban area (62.8%).There is a significant association between use of contraceptives and work status only in urban area (p<0.001); and with household wealth in the rural area (p<0.000). Further analysisshowed education hadminimal effect on contraceptive use in urban area and associated only with higher educational level [AOR:3.44; 1.07-11.11]; in rural area, use of contraceptives increases with educational attainment and associated statistically at all levels. This study showed men in the urban area used contraceptives more than the residents in rural areas across different groups.

In conclusion, this study recommendsthe design and implementation of targeted family planning programmes and interventions aimed at men with a wide reach into rural areas and across the country,so as to achieve a balance in
policy goals with respect to contraceptive use and population control.