UPTAKE OF CONTRACEPTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG WOMEN AGED BETWEEN (15-24) YEARS IN RWANDA

Background:Globally, contraceptive uptake among married women was estimated at 65% in 2024, with modern methods accounting for 58.7% (Hellwig & Barros, 2022). In sub-Saharan African countries the uptake remained suboptimal, with considerable variation in the usage of modern contraceptive methods.Adolescents and young women aged 15 24 years represent a critical demographic group for reproductive health interventions, yet they often face barriers to accessing contraceptive services. In many low and middle-income countries, including Rwanda, the uptake of contraception among this age group remains low, contributing to high rates of unintended pregnancies, early childbearing, and associated health risks.

Objectives: To assess contraception uptake and identify associated factors among Rwandan adolescents and young women aged 15 24.

Methodology: This research utilized secondary data from the 2019/2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey. A cross-sectional quantitative design was applied. The study focused on a representative group of adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24, examining socio-demographic characteristics, maternal knowledge and perceptions about contraceptive use, healthcare access, and cultural factors. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, with categorical variables presented as frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables expressed as means with standard deviations. Relationships between variables were first explored using the chi square test, considering a p value below 0.05 as statistically significant. Variables that showed significance in bivariate analysis were further examined through multivariate logistic regression, and findings were expressed using adjusted odds ratios along with 95% confidence intervals