Larc Use among Women Aged 15-24 in Kenya

Wambui Kungu , National Council for Population and Development

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014, revealed radically changing patterns in contraceptive use with women aged 15-24 shifting from the injectable method to implants. This could be a game changer in dealing with unintended pregnancies and could herald a new chapter in the fertility and reproductive health of this important cohort of women as LARCS are convenient, safer, long term and more effective than other modern methods. The study sought to establish the extent of LARC use for women aged 15-24 years and the factors that influence the choice of these methods. Data from KDHS 2014 was further analysed to profile LARC users among this group and to identify factors associated with the choice of these methods through logistic regression. The findings showed dramatic rise in use of LARCs but more so the implant especially among the primary educated women with additional significant influence from wealth status and type of region. LARC use is seen to be influenced by factors of age, education, wealth, and region and whether a user received counselling from a health worker on initiating use. LARCs should be encouraged for their pregnancy prevention as well as non-contraceptive benefits. Barriers to their use should be identified and addressed and investments in quality family planning services made so that the high rates of unintended pregnancies may be dramatically reduced and adolescent girls and young women can be in control of their reproductive and life goals.

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 Presented in Session P1. Poster Session Fertility, Family and the Life Course