Contraceptive Use among Women Assessing Family Planning Services in Different Levels of Health Care Facilities: A Decades Retrospective Review

, Abstract Background: Nigeria's population continues to grow at a fast rate despite the presumed increase in the use of contraceptives. Appropriate strategies and policies that will contribute to better coverage may arise from reviewing current trends. Objectives: To determine the trend of contraceptive use among women attending family planning clinics in selected facilities in the southwestern part of Nigeria from 2007 to 2017. Methods: This is a retrospective study of women who accessed family planning services from the selected primary, secondary, and tertiary health care facilities in the southwestern part of Nigeria between 2007 and 2017. Information related to their age, parity, and method of contraceptives were obtained using a standardized proforma. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) statistical package. Results: During the 10-year review period, the majority of the clients that assessed family planning services at the selected secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions opted for IUCD, accounting for 51.5 % and 45.5 %, respectively, whereas, at the selected primary healthcare centers, progestin injectable was the most popular (51.3 %). Women within the age range of 30-39 years and those having two and three parity are more likely to use modern contraceptive methods in Nigeria. Conclusions: We observed apparent variations in the pattern of contraceptive use in primary, secondary, and tertiary health care facilities. Population settings rather than accessibility and availability of modern contraceptive methods appear to determine the choice and pattern of contraceptive use. There may be a need to devise strategies and policies to help meet specific contraceptive needs of clients in different population settings.