Knowledge of Ovulatory cycle and Contraceptive use and its association with Unwanted pregnancy among women in Ondo West Local Government Area, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30442/Keywords:
Contraceptive use, Ovulatory cycle knowledge, Reproductive age, Unwanted pregnancy, WomenAbstract
Background: It is estimated that poor sexual and reproductive health of women of reproductive age accounts for one-third of the global burden of disease and early deaths. This study assessed the knowledge of ovulatory cycle, contraceptive use and their association with unwanted pregnancy among reproductive-aged women in Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State, in Nigeria.
Methods: An analytical, cross-sectional household survey of 156 women of reproductive age selected through a multistage cluster sampling procedure. The prevalence, and interrelationship between knowledge of ovulation cycle, contraceptive use and unwanted pregnancy amongst the women were evaluated using bivariate and logistic regression modelling.
Results: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy amongst the women was high (n= 156, 65.7%). This prevalence varied significantly with age and marital status of women at both bivariate and multivariate levels of analysis. Only 13.5% had correct knowledge of ovulatory cycle and 32.7% are currently using a method of contraception.
Conclusion: Reproductive-aged women in Ondo have very low knowledge of ovulation cycle and low incidence of contraceptive usage, and are likely to report high unwanted pregnancy. To reduce the burden of unwanted pregnancy, pragmatic efforts such as building community support for women to discuss and share experiences that empowers on fertility, ovulatory cycle, contraception and other sexuality issues is most essential.
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