The impact of age and parity on contraceptive method choices in Indonesia

Background/Aims Maternal mortality is a major public health issue in Indonesia. Age and parity can impact the risk of maternal complications, with contraceptive services offering preventive measures to ensure that women do not conceive at high-risk ages or parities. This study explored contraceptive use among different women of different ages and parities in Indonesia. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 10 788 purposively sampled women of reproductive age who attended healthcare facilities across 10 regions of East Java. Data were collected with a questionnaire and multinomial regression tests were used to examine the relationship between age, parity and contraceptive use. Results Contraceptive use was most common among women who were 31–40 years old (83.3%) and those who had given birth 2–4 times (83.2%). Age and parity both significantly influenced contraceptive use ( P <0.001) and accounted for 12.6% of variation in use. Conclusions Increased age and parity do not correspond with increased contraceptive use, which may lead to a higher incidence of unintended and high-risk pregnancies. Implications for practice Proper pregnancy planning for women in high-risk age and parity groups is essential to reducing pregnancies with increased risk of complications.