Partner approval and intention to use contraception among Zanzibari women presenting for post-abortion care

Objective

We examined the effect of partner approval of contraception on intention to use contraception among women obtaining post-abortion care in Zanzibar.

Study design

Our data source was a 2010 survey of 193 women obtaining post-abortion care at a large public hospital in Zanzibar. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess associations between partner approval and intention to use contraception.

Results

Overall, 23% of participants had used a contraceptive method in the past, and 66% reported intending to use contraception in the future. We found that partner approval of contraception and ever having used contraception in the past were each associated with intending to use contraception in the future. In the multivariable model, adjusting for past contraception use, partner approval of contraception was associated with 20 times the odds of intending to use contraception (odds ratio, 20.25; 95% confidence interval, 8.45–48.56).

Conclusions

We found a strong association between partner approval and intention to use contraception. Efforts to support contraceptive use must include both male and female partners.

Implications

Public health and educational efforts to increase contraceptive use must include men and be targeted to both male and female partners. Given that male partners are often not present when women obtain health care, creative efforts will be required to meet men in community settings.