Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive Use among Ethiopian Youth: Potential Demand and Strategies for Promotion

Ndola Prata, University of California, Berkeley

Long acting reversible contraception (LARC) allows women to prevent pregnancy for many years at a time, offering a valuable opportunity to postpone childbearing safely and effectively. However, use of LARC methods remains low in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among young women. We systematically review the literature on efforts to increase LARC uptake in sub-Saharan Africa, assess whether a potential demand for LARC services exists among young Ethiopian women, and explore how our literature review might inform how to meet such a demand. Our preliminary literature review suggests that demand-side efforts to promote LARC are limited. Our preliminary review of Ethiopia DHS data further illustrates a large potential demand for LARC among young women, but knowledge and use of LARC is very low. Young Ethiopian women could benefit from greater knowledge and availability of these methods, and family planning programs and policies targeted at youth should emphasize them more strongly.