Modern contraceptive use among female adolescents in rural Nigeria: Does exposure to family planning messages matter? A cross-sectional study: version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations

Background: The world currently has the highest number of adolescents in all of history. Africa is home to quite a number of them, with most of these adolescents in Africa live in rural areas where they are more disadvantaged and their reproductive decisions could have telling impacts on their lives, family planning (contraception) has been identified as important to avoid such impacts. Factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents have been extensively researched but the importance of mass media family planning messages on modern contraceptives use among female adolescents in rural Nigeria is under-researched, hence this study. Method: This paper uses the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data with a weighted sample size (n=4473) to examine the association between exposure to family planning messages and use of modern contraceptives among female adolescents in rural Nigeria. Results: Findings indicated that exposure to family planning messages on radio and television were significantly associated with modern contraceptive use, however, educational attainment and region of residence were other factors that influenced modern contraceptive use.. Conclusion: The study concludes that family planning messages through mass media especially radio and television are associated with modern contraceptives use among rural adolescents. The continued use of mass media would enhance opportunities to achieve more results, however, other interventions addressing education with objectives of closing the rural-urban socio-economic gap should be encouraged also, as these factors play critical roles in improving uptake of family planning among rural adolescents. Further, messages on modern contraceptive use should be sensitive to regional divides in terms of content and delivery.