Correlates of contraceptive use among Ghanaian women of reproductive age - recent evidence

Aaron Abuosi, University of Ghana

Though fertility in Ghana has declined from an average of 8 to 4 children per woman in recent times, population growth is still high. Evidence from the 2008 GDHS, suggests that contraceptive use has increased marginally despite the considerable decline in fertility rate. Ghana’s contraceptive prevalence rate is at par with WHO regional average of 24% but below the rate in other sub-Saharan countries. This paper seeks to revisit the determinants of contraceptive use among Ghanaian women, aged 15-49 using the 2008 GDHS. Empirically, the logistic and multinomial logistic regression models are used. Our results indicate that wealth status, level of education, women autonomy, ownership of health insurance, number of surviving children, marital status, and location inter alia are significant correlates of contraceptive use. The finding reveals that, women who take health decisions alone or together with their partners are more likely to use modern and any contraceptives.