A cross-sectional assessment of predictors of contraception practice among rural and urban female adolescents in North Central Nigeria

Year 2025, Volume: 23 Issue: 2, 120 - 131, 09.08.2025

Adetumi Subulade , Adejoke Ogundana , Adebukola Ajite

https://doi.org/10.20518/tjph.1576659

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of contraception practice among unmarried female adolescents
aged 15-19 years in rural and urban community settings, assess the socio-demographic characteristics, community area,
and knowledge as factors associated with contraception practice, and identify which of these factors that predicts their
contraceptive practice in comparing between the adolescents in rural and urban communities.
Method: A total of 400 unmarried female adolescents, aged 15-19 years from the rural and urban settings of Abuja,
in North-Central Nigeria, were recruited in the study, and pregnant adolescents were excluded. A comparative crosssectional
study design was used, and a sample size formula for comparing two proportions was applied. A multistage
sampling technique was used to select eligible participants. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was
used, and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.
Results: The prevalence of contraception practice among adolescents in urban and rural communities were 47.1% and
24.1%, respectively, and the prevalent type of contraception practice among respondents in rural and urban areas were
male condoms (37.2%) and injectables (32.3%), respectively. Community type (X2=10,023, p=0.003), respondents’
age groups (X2=6.28, p=0.010), and culture (X2=6,574, p=0.010) were significantly associated with contraception
practice, however, only culture was a predictor.
Conclusion: The prevalence of contraception practice among unmarried adolescents in the urban community almost
doubled that of rural adolescents. This implied that more morbid consequences among rural adolescents. Culture was
the only predictor of contraception practice, hence, the promotion of adolescent-health-friendly culture on contraception
should be advocated in communities.

Keywords

Adolescent girls , Contraception , Types , Rural , Urban

Ethical Statement

Approval of this study was obtained from the Health Research and Ethics Committee of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Verbal and written informed consents were obtained from the respondents and strict confidentiality of all information and results of findings were maintained throughout the course of the study. As part of measures to ensure confidentiality, no names of respondents were collected on the questionnaire.

Supporting Institution

Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Thanks

I gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Bldr. Olabode J. Ogundana for his encouragement throughout this research work.

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