Postpartum contraceptive practice and barriers to its use among mothers from a tertiary hospital in Abuja, Nigeria

Introduction: Nigeria is the 4 highest contributor to global maternal mortality; many postpartum mothers do not initiate contraceptives early and are at increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and abortion. Understanding the barriers is thus vital. This cross-sectional quantitative study carried out at a tertiary hospital in Abuja to determine the contraceptive practice level, identify barriers to use among mothers with infants less than 12months. Methodology: Questionnaires were administered on 220 consenting mothers. Descriptive analysis included frequencies and percentages, the inferential statistical techniques used are binary logistic regression to establish the relationship between the variables. Results: 200 questionnaires were retrieved; the mean age of the respondents was 31; most had tertiary level education, were in monogamous union and Christians. Over-half is within 3months postpartum and desired to have below four children. The commonly used methods are the condom, IUD, pills and implant. 48% are currently on a method, and 1% less have good contraceptive practice. Identified barriers are personal information and health system barriers. Barriers associated with the health system found to impact on the use of contraceptives (p=0.028). Contraceptive use was dependent on respondent’s religion (p=0.050) and child’s age (p=0.038). Conclusion: Contraceptive practice level of respondents is less than average and child's age and religion determined it, the mothers are indifferent on personal information and family/cultural barriers, but concerned on health system barriers. Tackling health system barriers in the postpartum period through early education, counseling, opening and equipping more family planning clinics and health facilities can improve contraceptive use.