REPUBLIC OF BÉNIN - Adolescent contraceptive use

Publication date: 2016

Adolescent contraceptive use DATA FROM L’ENQUÊTE DÉMOGRAPHIQUE ET DE SANTÉ DU BÉNIN (EDSB), 2011-2012 R E PU B LI C O F B É N I N What can be done to support Beninese 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 Republic of Bénin, there are 2.5 million adolescents aged 10–19 years – 23.2% of the country’s total population.i Just over half of adolescents live in rural areas, 51.4% of adolescent girls and 54.8% of adolescent boys.i By age 19, the mean number of years of schooling attended by adolescent girls is 5.8, while for adolescent boys it is 8.4.ii Among adolescents who become parents before age 20, the average age at which Beninese adolescent girls have their first baby is 16.8 years, while the average age at which adolescent boys first become fathers is 18.0.ii Sexual activity and marital status Analysis of data from the EDSBii shows that over 367 000 Beninese 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 age 16.3 years and adolescent boys at 15.9 years. Among unmarried adolescents, 37.2% of adolescent girls report ever having sex and 24.1% are currently sexually active; among adolescent boys, 36.7% report ever having sex, while 23.0% are currently sexually active. Among all Beninese adolescents, 13.8% of adolescent girls and 1.8% of adolescent boys are in a union. Among these adolescents, the mean age of the first union is 16.2 years for adolescent girls and 17.6 for adolescent boys. Contraceptive use and non-use among adolescent girls FIGURE 1. Use and non-use of contraception: unmarried sexually active adolescent girls, aged 15–19 years (%) Not using Withdrawal Periodic abstinence Female condom Male condom Pill Injectable contraceptives Implants Female sterilization FIGURE 2. Use and non-use of contraception: adolescent girls in union, aged 15–19 years (%) LISTED FROM LEAST EFFECTIVE TO MOST EFFECTIVE LISTED FROM LEAST EFFECTIVE TO MOST EFFECTIVE Unmarried, sexually active According to EDSBii analyses, 70.1% of unmarried, sexually active adolescent girls report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 34.0% of them are currently using any method to prevent pregnancy. The main reasons these adolescents report for not using a contraceptive method include: • not married (46.9%) • infrequent sex (22.4%) • fear of side-effects or health concerns (12.8%) Among all unmarried, sexually active adolescent girls aged 15–19, 65.9% are not using a method of contraception. Pills and male condoms are the most common modern methods used (23.8% and 17.6% of these adolescent girls, respectively). Implants, which are considered to be one of the most effective methods, are used by 0.3% and female sterilization, a permanent method, is used by 0.2%. Traditional methods (withdrawal or periodic abstinence) are used by 9.2% of these adolescent girls (see Figure 1). In union According to EDSBii analyses, 29.3% of adolescent girls in a union report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 6.3% of them are currently using any method to prevent pregnancy. The main reasons these adolescents report for not using a contraceptive method include: • breastfeeding (33.7%) • infrequent sex (17.5%) • knows no method (11.9%) Among all adolescent girls in a union aged 15–19, the majority (91.8%) are not using a method of contraception. Among users, 1% or fewer are using one of the following modern methods: IUD, implants, lactational amenorrhea (LAM), injectable contraceptives, pills and male condoms. Traditional methods (withdrawal or periodic abstinence) are used by 2.5% (see Figure 2). 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 Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Économique (INSAE) [Bénin], ICF International. L’Enquête Démographique et de Santé du Bénin (EDSB), 2011-2012 [Datasets]. BJIR61.DTA and BJMR61.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International; 2012 (http://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Benin_Standard-DHS_2012.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). Not using Withdrawal Periodic abstinence Male condom Pill Injectable contraceptives Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) Implants IUD 0.5 2.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.4 91.8 65.91.7 17.6 7.5 0.2 23.8 1.8 0.3 0.2 LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Source: analysis of EDSB 2011-12ii Source: analysis of EDSB 2011-12ii Unmarried, sexually active adolescents who are using a modern method most often get it from a pharmacy (39.7%) or a shop (22.8%). Adolescents in a union who are using a modern method most often get it from a government facility (41.6%) or a shop (24.7%). Adolescent contraceptive use R E P U B L I C O F B É N I N Use and non-use of contraception adolescent girls, aged 15-19 million adolescents ages 10-19 2.5 16.3 years for adolescent girls 15.9 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 Beninese adolescents to prevent unintended pregnancy? Main reasons for not using contraception Report not wanting a child in the next two years Sexually active, unmarried In union 70.1% sexually active, unmarried adolescent girls 29.3% adolescent girls in union 39.7% from a pharmacy 41.6% from a government facility 22.8% from a shop 24.7% from a shop 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 L’ENQUÊTE DÉMOGRAPHIQUE ET DE SANTÉ DU BÉNIN, 2011-2012 COMPILED IN 2016 | UPDATED NOVEMBER 2016 Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Économique (INSAE) [Bénin], ICF International. L’Enquête Démographique et de Santé du Bénin (EDSB), 2011-2012 [Datasets]. BJIR61.DTA and BJMR61.DTA. Calverton (MD): ICF International; 2012 (http:// dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Benin_Standard-DHS_2012.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). 16.8 18.0 for adolescent girls for adolescent boys LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Sexually active, unmarried In union 46.9% not married 33.7% breastfeeding 22.4% infrequent sex 17.5% infrequent sex 12.8% fear of side-effects or health concerns 11.9% knows no method Method Sexually active, unmarried In union Not using 65.9% 91.8% Withdrawal 1.7% 0.5% Periodic abstinence 7.5% 2.0% Female condom 0.2% -- Male condom 17.6% 0.7% Pill 23.8% 0.8% Injectable contraceptives 1.8% 0.6% Lactational amenorrhea (LAM) -- 1.0% Implants 0.3% 0.3% IUD -- 0.4% Female sterilization 0.2% -- 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/16.15

View the publication