Associations of spousal communication with contraceptive method use among adolescent wives and their husbands in Niger

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to examine associations between spousal communication about contraception and ever use of modern contraception, overt modern contraceptive use (with husband’s knowledge), and covert modern contraceptive use (without husband’s knowledge) among adolescent wives and their husbands in Niger. Study design Cross-sectional data, from the Reaching Married Adolescents Study , were collected from randomly selected adolescent wives (ages 13–19 years) and their husbands from 48 randomly selected villages in rural Niger (N = 1,020 couples). Logistic regression models assessed associations of couples’ reports of spousal communication about contraception with wives’ reports of contraception (overall, overt, and covert). Results About one-fourth of adolescent wives and one-fifth of husbands reported spousal communication about contraception. Results showed couples’ reports of spousal communication about contraception were positively associated with ever use of modern contraception. Couples’ reports of spousal communication about contraception were negatively associated with covert modern contraceptive use compared to overt use. Wives’ reports of spousal communication were marginally associated with covert use compared to no use but husbands’ reports were not. Conclusion Among a sample of couples in Niger, spousal communication about contraception was positively associated with modern contraceptive use (compared to no use) and negatively with covert use (compared to overt use) but wives’ and husbands’ reports showed differential associations with covert use compared to no use. Since there is little understanding of couple communication surrounding covert contraceptive use decisions, research should focus on characterizing content and context of couple communication particularly in cases of disagreement over fertility decisions.

A New Contraceptive Diaphragm in Niamey, Niger: A Mixed Methods Study on Acceptability, Use, and Programmatic Considerations

“…While global data shows that many women conceal contraceptive use from their partner, [22][23][24][25] significant research also confirms that in diverse settings, including in Niger, partner communication about contraception is associated with contraceptive continuation. 26,27 The present study confirmed that women feel Caya can be used without their partner's knowledge. However, the study also found examples of how outreach to men led to partner communication and male support for voluntary contraceptive use.…”

Unmet need for contraception among married adolescent girls and young women in Haramaya Health and demographic surveillance system, Eastern Ethiopia

“…Other plausible reasons might include gender inequitable norms affecting contraception use among young married women. Young women whose husbands do not support contraceptive use have limited participation and control in decision-making in a marital relationship and low negotiation ( 37 ). Conversations with intimate partners often resulted in consent for contraceptive use ( 38 ).…”

Her, his, and their fertility desires and contraceptive behaviours: A focus on young couples in six countries

“…women ages 15-49) without a focus on young couples (Bankole, 1995;Baschieri et al, 2013;Speizer, 1999;Takuri, 2012;Tilahun et al, 2014). The few studies of young couples found from LMIC (Challa et al, 2020;Yeatman & Sennott, 2014) do not examine the association between joint fertility desires and contraceptive use. By focusing on young couples, we see that many of these young couples still desire children.…”

“…For example, Challa and colleagues (2020) examine couples where the wife is aged 15-19 to determine how couple communication about contraception relates to contraceptive use behaviours in Niger. The authors find that less than a quarter of young couples report discussion and that those who discussed are more likely to report contraceptive use, and those who discussed are less likely to use covertly than overtly (Challa et al, 2020). Further, Yeatman and Sennott (2014) examine young couples (i.e.…”