Modern contraceptive utilisation and its associated factors among reproductive age women in high fertility regions of Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to assess the magnitude of modern contraceptives utilisation and associated factors among reproductive age women in high fertility regions of Ethiopia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: High fertility regions of Ethiopian. PARTICIPANTS: A total weighted sample of 3822 married reproductive age women. METHODS: In this study, data were obtained from the recent Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys. A total weighted sample of 3822 women of reproductive age was included. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the significant associated factors of modern contraceptive utilisation. Statistical significance was determined using adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI. RESULTS: The overall modern contraceptive utilisation was 29.75% (95% CI 28.2% to 31.2%). Among the factors associated with utilisation were women’s age 25–34 years (AOR 1.3; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.66) and ≥35 (AOR 1.71; 95% CI 1.37 to 2.70), husband’s occupation (AOR 1.49; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.99), number of alive children: 1–4 (AOR 2.20; 95% CI 1.47 to 3.30), 5–8 (AOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.77), husband’s desired number of children (AOR 0.77; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.96), residency (AOR 2.37; 95% CI 1.20 to 4.67), community media exposure (AOR 1.77; 95% CI 1.01 to 3.08), region (AOR 0.13; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.52) and religion (AOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.66) were significantly associated with modern contraceptive utilisation. CONCLUSION: Modern contraceptives utilisation in high fertility regions of Ethiopia was low. Women age, husband occupation, number of living children, husband’s desired number of children, residency, community media exposure, region and religion were significantly associated with modern contraceptive utilisation. Therefore, to improve the utilisation of modern contraceptives, public health policy makers should consider creating awareness through mass media, male involvement in family planning, as well as family planning programmes, should be encouraged in rural areas.