Effects of couples' characteristics on contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa: the Ghanaian example
Oheneba-Sakyi, Y.; Takyi, B.K.
Journal of Biosocial Science 29(1): 33-49
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 9881118 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932097000333Document Number: 577729
Compared to elsewhere in the Third World, Africa has one of the lowest contraceptive use rates. Recent studies suggest that gender relations in many parts of the continent may be responsible for such low use of modern contraception. The 1988 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey collected data on background characteristics, contraceptive knowledge and use, attitudes toward family planning, marriage, fertility, and fertility preferences from 4488 reproductive-age women and 1010 of their husbands. Relative to their spouses, men tended to be older, better educated, and more likely working in agriculture. 83% of men and 73% of women indicated their acceptance of mass media family planning messages, while 20% of husbands and 16% of wives reported using some form of contraception. A larger percentage of men and women over age 26 reported using contraception compared to respondents under age 26. The level of contraception use increased with the level of education for both sexes, although the level of use was inversely related to the difference in age between spouses. Periodic abstinence was the most widely used method, followed by oral contraception. Communication between spouses was an important predictor of family planning use.