Contraceptive Use in Uganda: Do Women Contracept Less in War-Affected Regions?

Sunday Adedini, University of the Witwatersrand
Judith Ngozi Udeh, University of the Witwatersrand
Olusina Bamiwuye, Obafemi Awolowo University
Dorothy N. Ononokpono, University of Uyo

Evidence is sparse on the contraceptive behaviour among war-affected population in Uganda. This paper examines whether women contracept less in war affected regions of Uganda. Using 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data, logistic regression analysis was performed on 8663 women of reproductive ages and results were presented as odds ratios and 95% confidence interval. Findings indicate a significantly higher odds of using contraceptives for women in the non-conflict regions of the country compared to women in the conflict regions (OR:1.16,CI:1.02-1.32,p<0.05). After adjusting for the effects of number of living children, findings indicate that odds of using contraceptives were 21% significantly higher for women in the non-conflict regions compared to women in the conflict regions (OR:1.21,CI:1.06-1.38,p<0.05). This study underscores the need to promote and foster peaceful co-existence in Uganda, and perhaps other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, if efforts to achieve increased contraceptive use would yield the expected results.