Background The proportion of women with family planning needs increased from 74 to 76% between 2000 and 2019, and this improvement has not transcended to a fertility rate stall or decrease in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In the face of a continuous increase in the fertility rate in SSA, population experts agreed that the efficient use of reliable family planning methods such as long-acting reversible and permanent contraceptive methods (LARC/PMs) could help reduce the high fertility rate and associated adverse reproductive health outcomes in the region. However, despite the effectiveness of LARC/PMs, its use remains elusive in SSA. Thus, this study examines the prevalence and factors associated with the use of LARC/PMs among women who desire no more children in high-fertility countries in SSA. Methods Secondary datasets from the demographic health surveys conducted in 20 countries in SSA between 2010 and 2019 were included in the study. A total sample size of 46,290 sexually active women of reproductive age who desire no more children and who met the study inclusion criteria was pooled and analysed. Prevalence of LARC/PMs use was displayed using a graph whilst binary logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors, and results were presented as unadjusted odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. Results The prevalence of LARC/PMs use among women who desire no more children was 7.5%. Ranging from 20.9% in Senegal and as low as 0.4% in Congo. Women within the richest wealth index [aOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.03–1.36] and those exposed to mass media [aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.41–1.68] had higher odds of LARC/PMs use among sexually active women of reproductive age who desire no more children compared to those within poorest wealth index and women with no mass media exposure. Conclusion The study concluded that LARC/PMs use among sexually active women who desire no more children was very low, and women within the richest wealth index and those with mass media exposure were likely to use LARC/PMs. Interventions that will encourage using LARC/PMs should be prioritised to reduce fertility rates in SSA.

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Adolescents in Nigeria are at risk of plethora of ills arising from risky sexual behavior in the form of multiple sexual partnerships (MSP). Despite evidence linking MSPs to age at sexual debut, there is a dearth of research among adolescents and the mediating role of the knowledge of STIs has been ignored. Hence, we examined the association between age at sexual debut and MSP and the mediating role of the knowledge of STIs in the relationship among adolescents. We utilized data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (n = 3215), employing Chi square test of association and binary logistic regression to address the study objectives. We established strong inverse relationship between age at sexual debut and MSP among adolescents in Nigeria and additionally, found that its interaction with knowledge of HIV and STIs significantly reduced adolescents’ engagement in MSP, i.e., adolescents who first had sex in later years (15+ years) were significantly less likely to have multiple sexual partners compared to adolescents who had early sexual debut (≤14 years). Early, age-appropriate, continuous, and improved awareness campaigns and reproductive health services and interventions for this population subgroup are recommended.

This study sought to identify the socio-demographic, economic, and psychological factors associated with risky sexual behaviour among sexually active youths in Nigeria with the view to providing more empirical information for the development of more effective interventions to improve safe-sex practices and the sexual health of the young people in Nigeria. The study analyzed the male and female datasets extracted from the 6th round of the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey data (MICS) (n=7,909) using descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regression to achieve the study objectives and test hypothesis. The results showed that 66% of the youths have had sex before reaching 18 years, 77% had unprotected sex, and 32% have had more than one-lifetime sexual partner. The significance of the association between socio-demographic (age, sex, marital status, ever fathered/mothered, awareness of AIDS, ethnicity, residence, and region), economic factors (employment status and wealth index), and risky sexual behaviour differ by the category of risky sexual behaviour. Overall psychological factor (satisfaction with life) was a significant correlate of the lifetime number of sexual partners. This study concludes that socio-demographic, economic, and psychological factors were predictive of risky sexual behaviour among young people in Nigeria. However, the significance of these predictors differs by type of risky sexual behaviour. The study recommends that more effective sexual health interventions must also address the prevalent psychological risk factors among young people in Nigeria- apart from different background characteristics- which could predispose them to risky sexual practices.

The world currently has the highest number of adolescents in Background: all of history. Africa is home to quite a number of them, with most of these adolescents in Africa live in rural areas where they are more disadvantaged and their reproductive decisions could have telling impacts on their lives, family planning (contraception) has been identified as important to avoid such impacts. Factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents have been extensively researched but the importance of mass media family planning messages on modern contraceptives use among female adolescents in rural Nigeria is under-researched, hence this study.This paper uses the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Method: Survey (NDHS) data with a weighted sample size (n=4473) to examine the association between exposure to family planning messages and use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents in rural Nigeria.Findings indicated that exposure to family planning messages on Results: radio and television were significantly associated with use, however, educational attainment and region of residence were other factors that influenced contraceptive use. Therefore, family planning messages through traditional media (radio and television) is associated with the use of modern contraceptives among female rural adolescents in Nigeria.The study concludes that family planning messages through Conclusion: mass media especially radio and televisions are associated with modern contraceptives use among rural adolescents. The continued use of mass media could create opportunities to achieve more results in family planning although the messages should be resident-specific and targeted to various cadres of people with consideration for the level of education to ensure efficiency of the message.