Kyrgyz Republic - adolescent contraceptive use

Publication date: 2016

Adolescent contraceptive use DATA FROM THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY (KGDHS), 2012 K Y RGY Z R E PU B LI C What can be done to support Kyrgyz adolescents to prevent unintended pregnancy? Plan for how, when and where different groups of sexually active adolescents (married and unmarried, boys and girls, rural and urban) use and do not use contraception. Learn the reasons why adolescents are not using contraception, and develop policies and programmes to better address their needs. Understand that adolescents may get contraception from a variety of sources and ensure that each of these sources can provide high quality services for adolescents. COMPILED IN 2016 | UPDATED NOVEMBER 2016 Adolescent population: who are they? In the Kyrgyz Republic, there over 975 000 adolescents aged 10–19 years – 17.1% of the country’s total population.i The majority of adolescents live in rural areas, 69.2% of adolescent girls and 69.8% of adolescent boys.i By age 19, the mean number of years of schooling attended by adolescent girls is 11.2, while for adolescent boys it is 11.1.ii Among adolescents who become parents before age 20, the average age at which Kyrgyz adolescent girls have their first baby is 18.5 years, while the average age at which adolescent boys first become fathers is 18.6 years. ii Sexual activity and marital status Analysis of data from the KgDHSii shows that over 66 000 Kyrgyz aged 15–19 are currently sexually active – they are either unmarried and have had sex in the last three months or they are in a union (i.e. married or living together). On average, adolescent girls first have sexual intercourse at age 18.1 years and adolescent boys at 17.5 years. Among unmarried adolescents, 0.6% of adolescent girls report ever having sex and 0.3% are currently sexually active; among adolescent boys, 24.4% report ever having sex, while 15.8% are currently sexually active. Among all Kyrgyz adolescents, 9.6% of adolescent girls and 0.5% of adolescent boys are in a union. Among these adolescents, the mean age of the first union is 18.1 years for adolescent girls and 18.6 for adolescent boys. Contraceptive use and non-use among adolescent girls FIGURE 1. Use and non-use of contraception: adolescent girls in union, aged 15–19 years (%) LISTED FROM LEAST EFFECTIVE TO MOST EFFECTIVE In union According to KgDHSii analyses, 23.7% of adolescent girls in a union report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 14.4% of them are currently using any method to prevent pregnancy. The main reasons these adolescents report for not using a contraceptive method include: • breastfeeding (68.8%) • menses has not returned after giving birth (33.9%) • infrequent sex (10.7%) Among all adolescent girls in a union aged 15–19, 94.9% are not using a method of contraception. IUDs, one of the most effective methods, are the most common modern method used (2.4% of these adolescent girls), while male condoms are used by 1.5%. Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) is used by 0.8%, and pills are used by 0.5% of these adolescent girls (see Figure 1). i Urban and rural population by age and sex, 1980–2015 [online database]. New York (USA): United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division; 2014 (https://esa. un.org/unpd/popdev/urpas/urpas2014.aspx, accessed 4 November 2016). ii National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (NSC), Ministry of Health [Kyrgyz Republic], ICF International. Kyrgyz Republic Demographic and Health Survey 2012 [Datasets]. KYIR61.DTA and KYMR61.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International; 2013 (http://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Kyrgyz-Republic_Standard- DHS_2012.cfm?flag=0), accessed 4 November 2016). Not using Male condom Pill Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) IUD 0.5 0.8 2.41.5 94.9 LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Source: analysis of KgDHS 2012ii Adolescents in a union who are using a modern method most often get it from a government facility (66.1%) or a pharmacy (33.9%). Adolescent contraceptive use K Y R G Y Z R E P U B L I C Use and non-use of contraception adolescent girls, aged 15-19 million adolescents ages 10-19 1 18.1 years for adolescent girls 17.5 years for adolescent boys Among adolescents who had sex before age 20, the average age at first sex is Among adolescents who become parents before age 20, the average age at first birth is What can be done to support Kyrgyz adolescents to prevent unintended pregnancy? Main reasons for not using contraception Report not wanting a child in the next two years In union 23.7% adolescent girls in union Understand that adolescents may get modern contraception from a variety of sources. Learn the reasons why adolescents are not using contraception. Plan for how, when, and where different groups of adolescents use or don’t use contraception. ANALYSIS OF THE KYRGYZ DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY, 2012 COMPILED IN 2016 | UPDATED NOVEMBER 2016 National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (NSC), Ministry of Health [Kyrgyz Republic], ICF International. Kyrgyz Republic Demographic and Health Survey 2012 [Datasets]. KYIR61.DTA and KYMR61.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International; 2013 (http://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Kyrgyz-Republic_Standard-DHS_2012.cfm?flag=0), accessed 4 November 2016). 18.618.5 for adolescent boysfor adolescent girls LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use In union 68.8% breastfeeding 33.9% menses has not returned after giving birth 10.7% infrequent sex Method In union Not using 94.9% Male condom 1.5% Pill 0.5% Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) 0.8% IUD 2.4% 33.9% from a pharmacy 66.1% from a government facility REASONS FOR NON-USE: Not married Not having sex Infrequent sex Menses has not returned after birth Breastfeeding Fatalistic (up to god) She is opposed Husband/partner is opposed Religious prohibition Knows no method Knows no source Fear of side effects/health concerns Inconvenient to use Others opposed Lack of access/too far SOURCE OF METHOD: Government facility Private facility Pharmacy Shop Friends or parents Other Community Health Worker Icon Directory METHODS: Not using Withdrawal Periodic abstinence Rhythm/calendar Female condom Male condom Standard days/cycle beads Pill Injectable contraceptives Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) Implants IUD Male sterilization Female sterilization © WHO 2016. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence WHO/RHR/16.52

View the publication