Pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization and its associated factors among reproductive age women in East Africa: derived from demographic and health surveys

This study identified key factors influencing modern contraceptive use among women in East Africa. Higher utilization was associated with being aged 20-39, urban residence, being married, higher wealth status, media exposure, and having more children. In contrast, lower use was observed among women living in female-headed households and those with a history of pregnancy termination. Despite these influencing factors, modern contraceptive use in East Africa remains below the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. Therefore, to improve uptake among women of reproductive age, healthcare providers and policymakers should design and implement targeted interventions focusing on adolescents, rural residents, women with a history of pregnancy termination, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups to enhance contraceptive use and reproductive health outcomes in the region.