A cross-sectional assessment of predictors of contraception practice among rural and urban female adolescents in North Central Nigeria

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of contraception practice among unmarried female adolescents aged 15-19 years in rural and urban community settings, assess the socio-demographic characteristics, community area, and knowledge as factors associated with contraception practice, and identify which of these factors that predicts their contraceptive practice in comparing between the adolescents in rural and urban communities. Method: A total of 400 unmarried female adolescents, aged 15-19 years from the rural and urban settings of Abuja, in North-Central Nigeria, were recruited in the study, and pregnant adolescents were excluded. A comparative crosssectional study design was used, and a sample size formula for comparing two proportions was applied. A multistage sampling technique was used to select eligible participants. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used, and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Results: The prevalence of contraception practice among adolescents in urban and rural communities were 47.1% and 24.1%, respectively, and the prevalent type of contraception practice among respondents in rural and urban areas were male condoms (37.2%) and injectables (32.3%), respectively. Community type (X2=10,023, p=0.003), respondents’ age groups (X2=6.28, p=0.010), and culture (X2=6,574, p=0.010) were significantly associated with contraception practice, however, only culture was a predictor. Conclusion: The prevalence of contraception practice among unmarried adolescents in the urban community almost doubled that of rural adolescents. This implied that more morbid consequences among rural adolescents. Culture was the only predictor of contraception practice, hence, the promotion of adolescent-health-friendly culture on contraception should be advocated in communities.