Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Use Among Young Women in Ghana: A Mixed-Methods Study Design

Background: Only 20% of sexually active women aged 15-24 in Ghana used contraception during their last sexual intercourse. Young women are highly exposed to the risks associated with having unprotected sexual intercourse, such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Objective: To use an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to examine the determinants of modern contraceptive use among young women in Ghana using population-based data and identify the types of contraceptive methods the population know and use. QUAN Design: Analysis of the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey data, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. QUAN Findings: The male condom was widely known (97.4%), and the injectable was widely used (25.8%). Multiple logistic regression analysis involving 4,267 sexually active non-pregnant women aged 15–24 indicated that age (aOR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.23-1.74,p Qual Design: Using convenient sampling, I will conduct semi-structured in-person interviews among non-pregnant sexually experienced women aged 15-24 in Ghana. Justification for Mixed-Methods: A sequential mixed-methods study will further explain and triangulate these findings to ensure increased credibility and validity of the research. Implications: This project calls for more research and intensified education on contraceptive use and the expansion of sexual and reproductive health programs for young people in Ghana