TITLE:
Trends in the Use of Reversible Modern Contraceptives in Burkina Faso between 2010 and 2015
AUTHORS:
Lonkila Moussa Zan, Georges Guiella, Adama Tiendrébéogo
KEYWORDS:
Modern Contraceptives, Reversible Contraceptives, Contraception, Family Planning, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.15 No.7,
July
26,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: In Burkina Faso, efforts have been made between 2010 and 2015 to address the low levels of contraceptive utilization. However, the socio-cultural context in the country still reinforces traditional gender roles, low status for women, and a strong desire for larger families. The objectives of this study are twofold: 1) to analyze the trends in reversible modern contraceptive prevalence, and 2) to identify the factors influencing the use of reversible modern contraceptives, comparing the urban and rural areas. Data and Methods: We conducted an analysis using data from Burkina Faso sourced from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the 2015 Demographic and Health Module (DHM). The 2010 DHS received responses from 17,087 women aged 15 - 49 years, achieving a response rate of 98.4%. Similarly, the 2015 DHM garnered responses from 11,504 women aged 15 - 49 years, with a response rate of 96.6%. Results: Our findings revealed that while advancements were observed in urban areas, the majority of underprivileged women still faced limited access to modern contraception. Moreover, we did not observe any significant interaction effects between age and parity with the year of the survey. However, there was a slight decrease in the impact of marital status, although the difference between married and non-married women remained significant in 2015. It is noteworthy that family planning discussions and approval continued to play crucial roles. Conclusion: The initiatives to subsidize contraceptive costs and establish mobile clinics have proven inadequate in facilitating rural, impoverished, and young women’s access to modern contraception. Additional endeavors are required to enhance geographical accessibility to modern contraceptives by expanding the availability of supply sources, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, providing psychosocial support has the potential to empower women in making informed contraceptive decisions and exercising greater control over their reproductive choices.