Background Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy to improve child and maternal health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization among married women of sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women was included. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported. Multilevel regression analysis was used to identify the determinants of modern contraceptive use among married women. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model using the Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance test. Finally, the model with the highest LLR and the smallest deviance was selected as the best-fitted model. Results The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries was 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization were high among women living in East Africa [AOR = 1.47 (1.40, 1.54)], urban areas [AOR = 1.18 (1.14, 1.24)], and women with primary [AOR = 1.49 (1.44, 1.55)] and secondary and above educational level [AOR = 1.66 (1.58, 1.74)]. Moreover, husbands with primary educational level [AOR = 1.38 (1.33, 1.42)], middle [AOR = 1.17, (1.14, 1.21)], rich wealth status [AOR = 1.29 (1.25, 1.34)], media exposure [AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)], and postnatal care (PNC) utilization [AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)] had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization compared with their counter parts. Furthermore, deliver at health facility [AOR = 1.74 (1.69, 1.79)] and birth order 2–4 [AOR = 1.36 (1.31, 1.41)] had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization. On the other hand, women living in Central [AOR = 0.23 (0.22, 0.24)], Western regions [AOR = 0.46 (0.40, 0.54)], women who decided with husband [AOR = 0.90 (0.87, 0.93)], and decisions by husband alone [AOR = 0.73 (0.71, 0.75)] decreased the odds of modern contraceptive utilization. Conclusion The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low. Modern contraceptive utilization is affected by different factors. More attention needs to be given to rural residents, illiterate women, and communities with low wealth status.

Background: Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy to improve child and maternal health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women were included. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model using Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance test. Finally, the model with the highest LLR and the smallest deviance was selected as a best fitted model. Results: The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries was 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization among women living in East Africa was (AOR=1.47 (1.40, 1.54)), urban (AOR=1.18 (1.14, 1.24)), women primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR=1.49 (1.44, 1.55)), and (AOR=1.66 (1.58, 1.74)), respectively. Moreover, husband primary (AOR=1.38 (1.33, 1.42)), middle (AOR=1.17, (1.14, 1.21)), rich wealth status (AOR=1.29 (1.25, 1.34)), media exposure (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), and postnatal care (PNC) utilization (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization compared with their counter parts. Furthermore, deliver at health facility (AOR=1.74 (1.69, 1.79)) and birth order 2-4 (AOR=1.36 (1.31, 1.41)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization. On the otherhand, women living in Central (AOR=0.23 (0.22, 0.24)), Western regions (AOR=0.46 (0.40, 0.54)), women decided with husband (AOR=0.90 (0.87, 0.93)), and husband alone (AOR=0.73 (0.71, 0.75)) were decreased the odds of modern contraceptive utilization. Conclusion: The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low. Modern contraceptive utilization is affected by different factors. More attention need to be given to rural residents, illiterate women, and communities with low wealth status.

Background Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy. Planned pregnancies are essential for both the child and mother’s health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa, hence this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization across Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women was included in the study. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported for sub- Saharan Africa countries. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model for the data using Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance. Model III was selected because of its highest LLR and Smallest deviance. Results The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries were 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization were increased; women living in East Africa (AOR = 1.47 (1.40, 1.54)), urban (AOR = 1.18 (1.14, 1.24)), women primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR = 1.49 (1.44, 1.55)), and (AOR = 1.66 (1.58, 1.74)) respectively, husband primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR = 1.38 (1.33, 1.42)) and (AOR = 1.38 (1.36, 1.47)), wealth status middle and rich (AOR = 1.17, (1.14, 1.21)) and (AOR = 1.29 (1.25, 1.34)) respectively, media exposure (AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), Postnatal care(PNC) utilization (AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), deliver at health facility (AOR = 1.74 (1.69, 1.79)), and birth order 2–4 and 5+ (AOR = 1.36 (1.31, 1.41)) and (AOR = 1.35 (1.28, 1.43)) whereas the odds of contraception use were decreased among women living in Central, and Western regions (AOR = 0.23 (0.22, 0.24)), and (AOR = 0.46 (0.40, 0.54)) respectively, women decided with husband and husband alone (AOR = 0.90 (0.87, 0.93)) and (AOR = 0.73 (0.71, 0.75)). Conclusion The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low compared to other developing region. Therefore, family planning program activities need to give attention to the rural resident, illiterate women and low wealth status community.

Background: Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy to improve child and maternal health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women were included. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model using Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance test. Finally, the model with the highest LLR and the smallest deviance was selected as a best fitted model. Results: The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries was 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization among women living in East Africa was (AOR=1.47 (1.40, 1.54)), urban (AOR=1.18 (1.14, 1.24)), women primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR=1.49 (1.44, 1.55)), and (AOR=1.66 (1.58, 1.74)), respectively. Moreover, husband primary (AOR=1.38 (1.33, 1.42)), middle (AOR=1.17, (1.14, 1.21)), rich wealth status (AOR=1.29 (1.25, 1.34)), media exposure (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), and postnatal care (PNC) utilization (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization compared with their counter parts. Furthermore, deliver at health facility (AOR=1.74 (1.69, 1.79)) and birth order 2-4 (AOR=1.36 (1.31, 1.41)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization. On the otherhand, women living in Central (AOR=0.23 (0.22, 0.24)), Western regions (AOR=0.46 (0.40, 0.54)), women decided with husband (AOR=0.90 (0.87, 0.93)), and husband alone (AOR=0.73 (0.71, 0.75)) were decreased the odds of modern contraceptive utilization. Conclusion: The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low. Modern contraceptive utilization is affected by different factors. More attention need to be given to rural residents, illiterate women, and communities with low wealth status.