Prevalence and factors associated with the intention to use contraception among women of reproductive age who are not already using a contraceptive method in Liberia: findings from a secondary analysis of the 2019–2020 Liberia Demographic Health Survey

OBJECTIVE: Contraception constitutes a vital aspect of sexual and reproductive healthcare. However, the high prevalence of non-use has become a great public health concern globally. This study examined the intention to use contraceptives and its associated factors among women of reproductive age who were not using any method in Liberia. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted. We used data from the 2019–2020 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey. The research framework used the theory of planned behaviour to identify the factors that influence women’s intention to use contraception. PARTICIPANTS: The study analysed a weighted sample of 4504 women aged 15–49 who were not currently using any form of contraception. DATA ANALYSIS: The outcome variable was the intention to use a contraceptive method. A binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the intention to use contraceptives in Stata V.13.0. RESULTS: Of the 4504 women, 39.42% intended to use contraception. Contraception intention was significantly lower in married women than in never married women (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.78; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.98). Additionally, women aged 25–34 (aOR 0.434; 95% CI 0.339 to 0.556) and 35–49 (aOR 0.120; 95% CI 0.088 to 0.163) had a reduced intent to use contraceptives than those aged 15–24. However, women with at least one child, those with prior contraception experience and those who had their first sexual encounter at the age of 13 or older were more likely to intend to use contraception. Notably, Muslim and wealthy women displayed a lower likelihood of intending to use contraception. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control significantly influence women’s intentions to use contraception. Understanding and addressing these factors are crucial for promoting effective contraceptive use among women, facilitating informed reproductive choices.