Factors Associated with Intent-to-Use Contraceptives among Woman aged 15-49 Years in Mozambique: Results from a 2011 Nationally Representative Sample

Background: The prevalence of modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Mozambique in 2011 was 11.8%. This study assessed the sociodemographic factors associated with future the intent-to-use contraceptives in a nationally representative sample of 7,022 women aged 15-49 using the 2011 Mozambique Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data. 

Methods: The primary outcome of interest was a woman’s future intent-to-use contraceptive versusnon-intent. The exposure variables of interest included: age, region of residence, urban/rural, education, religion, knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, living arrangement with husband, husband’s level of education, and husband’s desire for children. Multivariable logistic regression analysis accounting for the complex survey design of DHS data was performed to assess the exposure-outcome relationship; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 30.4 (95%CI 30.1-30.7). Older age (age 35-44 aOR=0.55, 0.47- 0.65; age 45-49 aOR=0.18, 0.13-0.23 compared to age 15-24 years), living in the Central  region of the country (aOR=0.77, 0.66-0.91 compared to the South), having no education (aOR= 0.69, 0.54-0.89 compared to secondary/higher level), having no knowledge of modern contraceptives (aOR=0.69, 0.51-0.95), and husband’s desire to have more children (aOR=0.81, 0.72- 0.92) were all inversely and significantly associated with a women’s future intent-to-use contraceptives.

Conclusion/Policy Implications: We observed significant variations in the sociodemographic factors among Mozambican women’s intention-to-use contraceptives. Careful consideration of these differences in designing and implementing family planning programs is warranted for Mozambique to achieve its desired goal of increasing contraceptive use among women.