Republic of Azerbaijan - adolescent contraceptive use

Publication date: 2016

Adolescent contraceptive use DATA FROM THE AZERBAIJAN DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY (ADHS), 2006 R E P U B LI C O F A Z E R BA I JA N What can be done to support Azerbaijani 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 Republic of Azerbaijan, there nearly 1.4 million adolescents aged 10–19 years – 14.1% of the country’s total population.i Just over half of all adolescents live in urban areas, 51.2% of both adolescent girls and adolescent boys.i By age 19, the mean number of years of schooling attended by adolescent girls is 10.5, while for adolescent boys it is 11.1.ii Among adolescent girls who become parents before age 20, the average age at which they have their first baby is 17.9 years.ii Sexual activity and marital status Analysis of data from the ADHSii shows that nearly 74 000 Azerbaijanis 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, among adolescents who had sex before age 20, adolescent girls first have sexual intercourse at 17.7 years and adolescent boys at 17.5 years. Among unmarried adolescent boys, 13.0% report ever having sex, while 10.3% are currently sexually active. No unmarried adolescent girls report ever having sex. Among all Azerbaijani adolescents, 9.9% of adolescent girls and 0.1% of adolescent boys are in a union (i.e. married or living together). Among these adolescents, the mean age of the first union is 17.6 years for adolescent girls and 18.2 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 ADHSii analyses, 18.0% of adolescent girls in a union report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 7.0% of them are currently using any method to prevent pregnancy. The main reasons these adolescents report for not using a contraceptive method include: • breastfeeding (25.3%) • infrequent sex (19.0%) • fear of side-effects or health concerns (14.1%) Among all adolescent girls in a union aged 15–19, 93.6% are not using a method of contraception. Male condoms and lactational amenorrhea (LAM) are the most common modern methods used (1.7% and 1.2% of these adolescent girls, respectively). IUDs, one of the most effective methods, are used by 0.2%. Withdrawal, a traditional method, is used by 3.3% 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 Service [Armenia], Ministry of Health [Armenia], ICF International. Armenia Demographic and Health Survey 2010 [Datasets]. AMIR61.DTA and AMMR61.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International; 2012 http://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Armenia_Standard-DHS_2010.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). Not using Withdrawal Male condom Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) IUD 1.7 1.2 0.2 3.3 93.6 LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Source: analysis of ADHS 2006ii Adolescents in a union who are using a modern method most often get it from a pharmacy (90.8%) or a government facility (9.2%). Adolescent contraceptive use R E P U B L I C O F A Z E R B A I J A N Use and non-use of contraception adolescent girls, aged 15-19 million adolescents ages 10-19 1.4 17.7 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 Azerbaijani adolescents to prevent unintended pregnancy? Main reasons for not using contraception Report not wanting a child in the next two years 18.0% adolescent girls in union 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 AZERBAIJAN DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY, 2006 COMPILED IN 2016 | UPDATED NOVEMBER 2016 State Statistical Committee (SSC) [Azerbaijan], Macro International Inc. Azerbaijan Demographic and Health Survey 2006 [Datasets]. AZIR52.DTA and AZMR52.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International Inc.; 2008 (http://dhsprogram.com/ data/dataset/Azerbaijan_Standard-DHS_2006.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). 17.9 for adolescent girls LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use In union 25.3% breastfeeding 19.0% infrequent sex 14.1% fear of side=effects or health concerns Method In union Not using 93.6% Withdrawal 3.3% Male condom 1.7% Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) 1.2% IUD 0.2% In union 9.2% from a government facility Understand that adolescents may get modern contraception from a variety of sources. 90.8% from a pharmacy 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/16.51

View the publication