Prevalence and factors influencing contraceptive uptake among in school adolescent girls aged 13-19 years in selected secondary schools in Lusaka district

Background: Low contraceptive uptake among in school adolescent girls continues perpetuating poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Adolescent pregnancy has adverse maternal complications and compromise their social-economic potential. Studies have shown high prevalence of adolescent pregnancy due to low contraceptive uptake, despite availability of effective preventive measures. Adolescents still have many unmet contraceptive needs. Therefore, contraceptive use among in school adolescent girls needs more attention. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted among 383 in school adolescent girls aged 13-19. Primary data was collected and analyzed using STATA version 13.0. Characteristics of respondents were analyzed and presented in Frequency and Percentages. Applied chi-square and fishers exact tests to measure association between response variable and explanatory variables. Applied logistic regression to determine odds of factors influencing contraceptive uptake. Used investigator led best fit model to select best predictors of contraceptive uptake with statistically significant p-value (<0.05) and 95% confidence-interval. Results: Study showed majority 70% of adolescent girls never used contraceptives while, 20.6% ever used. Odds of contraceptive uptake increased among adolescents with both moderate and high knowledge levels (AOR:7.38, 95% CI:1.16-46.87, p =0.034) and (AOR:66.73, 95% CI3.84-1161.01, p = 0.004), having moderate and easy access (AOR:15.98, 95% CI:5.01-50.95, p<0.000) and (AOR:893.57, 95% CI:38.84-20560.12, p<0.000). Confidentiality showed moderately and extremely confidential (AOR:6.84, 95%CI: 1.96-23.85, p =0.003) and (AOR:124.60, 95%CI:6.07-2558.39, p =0.002). Also, having satisfactory and excellent information about sexual and reproductive health showed high odds (AOR:12.53, 95% CI:3.86-40.67, p<0.000) and (AOR:25.13, 95% CI:.3.34-188.95, p =0.000 respectively. Conclusion: Findings highlighted low contraceptive prevalence with factors influencing contraceptive uptake such as age, knowledge, access, confidentiality and adequate sexual and reproductive health information. Therefore, strengthening collaboration between education and healthcare systems in meeting sexual and reproductive health needs would significantly reduce teen pregnancies and promote their socio-economic development. Keywords: Adolescent girls, Contraceptives uptake/use, Contraceptive prevalence