Patterns of contraceptive use and pregnancy postponement by women of reproductive age in Lagos, Nigeria

Contraceptive use and pregnancy postponement are central to achieving reproductive health goals and gender equity. Despite Nigeria’s progress in family planning policy, subnational variations remain poorly documented, particularly in megacities such as Lagos, where rapid urbanization and socioeconomic diversity shape reproductive behaviors. This study examines population contraceptive trends and pregnancy postponement by women of reproductive age in Lagos, Nigeria. This descriptive cross-sectional study analyzed data from 9,988 women aged 15–49 years, drawn through a multistage cluster sampling method across Lagos State’s five administrative divisions. Data was collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from national demographic surveys. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 26.0 to identify predictors of contraceptive use and pregnancy postponement. Over 90% of respondents reported being married or in a union. Approximately 27% had intentionally delayed pregnancy and 63% were currently utilizing contraceptive methods at the time of the survey. The most used contraceptives included male condoms (29%), implants (20%), and injectables (18%), while 17% relied on the withdrawal method. Pregnancy delay was associated with factors such as age, marital status, education level, and ethnicity. Multivariate analysis showed that women with primary education had higher odds of currently delaying pregnancy than those with no formal education (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.18–3.74), whereas women with secondary education were more likely to report ever delaying pregnancy. In Lagos, continued reliance on traditional contraceptive methods despite widespread awareness, particularly among less-educated women suggests gaps in access to effective modern contraception and accurate reproductive health information, underscoring the need for targeted family planning interventions.