Use of Postpartum Modern Family Planning Methods and Its Association with Utilization of Maternity Services among Women of Child Bearing Age in Nigeria

The objective of this study was to ascertain the relationship between utilization of maternity services (UMS) and postpartum modern family planning (PPMFP) uptake among Nigerian women in the reproductive age group while taking into account the impact of the location of maternity services access. Family planning (FP) allows people to space their pregnancies and have the number of children they want by using various methods of contraception. This was a descriptive epidemiological study that involved the analysis of secondary data from the 2013 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS). The source of data for this study was the women’s questionnaire of the 2013 NDHS. It provided recent information on health indicators including family planning as well as other demographic characteristics of women of reproductive age group 15–49 years. To ascertain the relationship between the PPMFP uptake and the IDV/other control variables, descriptive statistics, chi-square testing, and logistic regression analyses were carried out. . Statistical significance was claimed at p<0.05. Utilization of maternity services was associated with higher uptake of PPMFP among the women (>/= 4 ANC visits OR = 2.08, 95% CI=1.65–2.62, P<0.001; public facility delivery OR= 1.80, 95% CI= 1.54–2.10, P< 0.001; private facility delivery OR =1.54, 95% CI 1.28–1.85, P< 0.001; PNC OR=1.21, 95% CI= 1.02–1.43, P=0.029). Accessing postnatal care in private health facilities was associated with increased uptake of PPMFP (OR= 1.46, 95% CI =1.05–2.02, P= 0.024). The number of children alive, educational attainment, wealth index and having information about FP remained significant predictors of PPMFP uptake. In Nigeria, postpartum use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age was positively correlated with the use of maternity services (ANC, health facility delivery, and attending PNC). Among Nigerian women of childbearing age, use of maternity services was positively correlated with postpartum use of contemporary family planning techniques. However, accessing postnatal care in private facilities was associated with higher uptake of PPMFP.