Prevalence and predictors of modern contraceptives utilization among sexually active adolescent girls and young women in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

We assessed the prevalence and predictors of modern contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) (15–24 years) in Sierra Leone. We analyzed secondary data of 2,338 sexually active AGYW from the 2019 Sierra Leone demographic and health survey using STATA version 16, and the results were presented as proportions. Modern contraceptive use among AGYW was relatively high (43.1%). The frequently used contraceptives were injectables (43.1%), implants/norplants (41%), and combined oral pills (12.1%). The predictors of modern contraceptive use among AGYW were knowledge about modern contraceptives, having one to three children, and more than three children, not in a union, completed higher, secondary, and primary education, being Muslim, and belonging to the middle and the richer wealth quintiles. Our study revealed a high use of modern contraceptives among AGYW in Sierra Leone, as compared to the country's family planning 2030 targets of 32% for all women of reproductive age.