Contraceptive use and its associated factors in Nigeria: Evidence from during and after COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 lockdown widened the unmet contraceptive need with far-reaching implications for contraception methods and usage beyond the lockdown period. We set out to examine contraceptive use during and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and its associated factors.

Methodology: This is an online survey of 1051 adult Nigerians aged 20–59 years between June 2023 and October 2023. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive analyses, chi-square, multiple logistic regression, and factor analysis. Odd ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

Results: The frequency of contraceptive use was significantly higher during lockdown than after lockdown (p<.05), and the proportion of adults who used injectable LARC and pills was consistently higher during the COVID-19 lockdown than after lockdown. Gender and accessibility showed a significant association with contraceptive use during the lockdown (p<.05), while after lockdown, gender, wealth index, parity, and religion were significantly associated (p<.05).

Conclusion: The impact of global health crises such as COVID-19 could be felt in the provision of sexual and reproductive health care services, including contraception. Given that accessibility is strongly associated with contraceptive usage during such emergencies, there is a need for the government and related non-government organisations to assist in enhancing the availability of contraceptives at a reduced cost, especially during such emergencies. Given some of the associated factors, there is a need for more enlightenment on contraceptive use, and collaboration with religious leaders to help address the religious gap in contraceptive use should also be encouraged.