Trends in Contraceptive Use and Condom Use among Single African Women: Evidence from DHS

Mohamed M. Ali, World Health Organization (WHO)
John G. Cleland, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

This paper examines trends in current use of contraceptive and condom use at most recent coitus among sexually active single women aged 15-24 years in 18 African countries that have conducted two or more DHSs since 1990. Trends are stratified by education, place of residence, wealth quintile and age. Condoms have become the most commonly reported contraceptive method, with an absolute annual increase, averaged for all 18 surveys, of 1.4 percent. For 13 countries with relevant information, the annual increase was higher, at 2.10 percent. Large differences were apparent by education and residence but not for age.