Association between exposure to family planning messages on different mass media channels and the utilization of modern contraceptives among young women in Sierra Leone: insights from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey

Abstract

Background: Access to sexual and reproductive health information enables young women to make appropriate decisions. We examined the association between exposure to family panning messages on different mass media and the use of modern contraceptives among young women in Sierra Leone.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey data of young women aged 15-24 years. Multistage stratified sampling was used to select study participants in the survey. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine the association between exposure to family panning messages on different types mass media channels and utilization of modern contraceptives. All our analyses were done using SPSS version 25.Results: Out of 6055 young women, 1506 (24.9%, 95% CI 24.0-26.2) were utilizing a modern contraceptive method with the prevalence higher among urban women (26.5%) compared to rural women (23.1%). Less than half (45.6%) had been exposed to family planning messages on mass media (radio 28.6%, television 10.6%, mobile phones 4.2% and newspapers or magazines 2.2%). Young women who had exposure to family planning messages on radio (AOR: 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.50) and mobile phones (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.25-2.69) had higher odds of using modern contraceptives compared to their counterparts without the same exposure. Furthermore, having access to internet (AOR:

Does Quality of Counseling and Exposure to Family Planning Messages Influence the Use of Modern Contraceptives Among Women in Northern Nigeria?

“…Furthermore, in contrast with most studies (11,29,37) our findings showed exposure to family planning messages was not significantly associated with the use of contraceptives. This may be connected with the low exposure to family planning messages among the women.…”

“…Besides, studies (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29) have also explored the association between exposure to family planning (FP) messages and use of modern contraceptives. Evidence from these studies suggest exposure to FP messages via different conventional and social media channels, was associated with a higher likelihood of modern contraceptive use.…”

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The Effect of a Decade Implemented Project in Improving the Uptake of Comprehensive Contraception: Difference-In-Difference Analysis

“…Although evidence on the efficacy of radio programs on the knowledge and uptake in Ethiopia and SSA is limited, evidence from sub-Saharan Africa suggests that exposure to family planning messages on the radio is associated with increased modern contraception uptake ( 23 ) and knowledge ( 24 ). This finding suggests that the ABRI project's radio program played an integral role in raising family planning awareness and uptake in ABRI initiative areas.…”