Republic of Rwanda - adolescent contraceptive use

Publication date: 2016

Adolescent contraceptive use DATA FROM THE RWANDA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY (RDHS), 2014-15 R E PU B LI C O F RWA N DA What can be done to support Rwandan 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 Rwanda, there are over 3 million adolescents aged 10–19 years – 24.3% of the country’s total population.i About three quarters of adolescents live in rural areas, 73.8% of adolescent girls and 74.4% of adolescent boys.i By age 19, the mean number of years of schooling attended by adolescent girls is 6.5, while for adolescent boys it is 6.3.ii Among adolescents who become parents before age 20, the average age at which Rwandan adolescent girls have their first baby is 18.0 years, while the average age at which adolescent boys first become fathers is 18.6.ii Sexual activity and marital status Analysis of data from the RDHSii shows that over 95 000 Rwandans 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 17.2 years and adolescent boys at 16.2 years. Among unmarried adolescents, 17.6% of adolescent girls report ever having sex and 4.8% are currently sexually active; among adolescent boys, 23.3% report ever having sex, while 4.3% are currently sexually active. Among all Rwandan adolescents, 3.1% of adolescent girls and 0.2% of adolescent boys are in a union. Among these adolescents, the mean age of the first union is 17.8 years for adolescent girls and 18.4 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 Male condom Pill Injectable contraceptives Implants 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 RDHSii analyses, 81.9% of unmarried, sexually active adolescent girls report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 20.9% 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 (68.0%) • infrequent sex (43.6%) • not having sex (6.2%) Among all unmarried, sexually active adolescent girls aged 15–19, 87.7% are not using a method of contraception. Injectable contraceptives and male condoms are the most common modern methods used (5.9% and 2.9% of these adolescent girls, respectively). Implants, which are considered to be one of the most effective methods, are used by 2.6% (see Figure 1). In union According to RDHSii analyses, 78.1% of adolescent girls in a union report not wanting a child in the next two years, yet only 43.3% of them are currently using any method to prevent pregnancy. The main reasons these adolescents report for not using a contraceptive method include: • menses has not returned after giving birth (79.5%) • breastfeeding (43.1%) • fear of side-effects or health concerns (7.7%) Among all adolescent girls in a union aged 15–19, 64.7% are not using a method of contraception. Injectable contraceptives are the most common modern method used (18.7% of these adolescent girls), while 6.0% are using implants, one of the most effective methods. Traditional methods, withdrawal or periodic abstinence, are used by 2.4% (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 National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, Ministry of Health (MOH) [Rwanda], ICF International. Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2014–15 [Datasets]. RWIR70.DTA and RWMR70.DTA. Rockville (MD): ICF International; 2015 (http://dhsprogram.com/data/dataset/Rwanda_Standard-DHS_2015.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). Not using Withdrawal Periodic abstinence Male condom Pill Injectable contraceptives Implants 1.2 3.2 1.2 4.9 6.0 18.7 64.7 87.7 2.9 2.6 0.9 5.9 LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Source: analysis of RDHS 2014-15ii Source: analysis of RDHS 2014-15ii Unmarried, sexually active adolescents who are using a modern method most often get it from a government facility (59.8%) or a community health worker (17.1%). Adolescents in a union who are using a modern method most often get it from a government facility (65.4%) or a community health worker (21.7%). Adolescent contraceptive use R E P U B L I C O F R W A N D A Use and non-use of contraception adolescent girls, aged 15-19 million adolescents ages 10-19 3 17.2 years for adolescent girls 16.2 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 Rwandan 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 81.9% sexually active, unmarried adolescent girls 78.1% adolescent girls in union 17.1% from a community health worker 21.7% from a community health worker 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 RWANDA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY, 2014-15 COMPILED IN 2016 | UPDATED NOVEMBER 2016 National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, Ministry of Health (MOH) [Rwanda], ICF International. Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2014–15 [Datasets]. RWIR70.DTA and RWMR70.DTA. Rockville (MD): ICF International; 2015 (http://dhsprogram. com/data/dataset/Rwanda_Standard-DHS_2015.cfm?flag=0, accessed 4 November 2016). 18.0 18.6 for adolescent girls for adolescent boys LEARN MORE AT who.int/reproductivehealth/adol-contraceptive-use Sexually active, unmarried In union 68.0% not married 79.5% menses has not returned after giving birth 43.6% infrequent sex 43.1% breastfeeding 6.2% not having sex 7.7% fear of side-effects or health concerns Method Sexually active, unmarried In union Not using 87.7% 64.7% Withdrawal -- 1.2% Periodic abstinence -- 1.2% Male condom 2.9% 3.2% Pill 0.9% 4.9% Injectable contraceptives 5.9% 18.7% Implants 2.6% 6.0% 65.4% from a government facility 59.8% 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/16.39

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