Contraceptive Uptake among Adolescent Girls Attending Family Planning Units in Four Health Facilities in Cameroon

Author(s): Frankline Sevidzem Wirsiy, Eugene Vernyuy Yeika

Background and aim: In Africa and particularly in Cameroon, a substantial number of adolescent girls experience the negative health consequences as a result of not using contraceptives. The aim of this study was to determine contraceptive uptake among adolescent girls; specifically, to determine the principal trends in contraceptive use from 2012-2017 in the family planning units of four health facilities in the Kumbo West Health District of Cameroon and to identify the effect of age, marital status and parity on the choice of contraceptive method. 

Methods: A retrospective record of 886 adolescent girls who attended the family planning and general gynaecology outpatient departments units of the four health facilities were reviewed for the period between the years 2012-2017. Data analyzed with SPSS version 21. Pearson chi-square test was used as a test of significance and P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. 

Results: Within the study period, the contraceptive uptake was 10.7%. IUD was the most commonly used method of contraception (27.4%), followed by the progestogen only injectable contraceptives (26.3%), then vacuum aspiration (4.2%) and implants (3.2%). Late adolescents, married adolescents and adolescent mothers were more likely to use contraceptives than early adolescents, single adolescents and those with 0 parity. IUD and jadelle uptake were not statistically significant with age, parity and marital status (P>0.05). However, Progestin injection uptake was statistically significant with parity (P=0.011). 

Conclusions: Contraceptive uptake is relatively low among the adolescent girls. There is a need to improve access, availability and delivery of family planning services in Cameroon.