Associations of Couple Communication With Family Planning Use and Moderating Effects of Male Partner Violence Among Married Adolescent Girls in Niger

Sneha Challa , University of California, San Diego
Holly Shakya, University of California, San Diego
Nicole Carter, University of California, San Diego
Bram Brooks, Pathfinder
Sani Aliou, Pathfinder
Jay Silverman, University of California, San Diego

This analysis assessed associations of spousal contraceptive use communication with contraceptive use outcomes including ever use of modern contraception, overt modern contraceptive method use (with husband’s knowledge) and covert modern contraceptive method use (without husband’s knowledge) among married adolescent girls (ages 13-19) and their husbands in Niger. Cross-sectional, baseline (pre-intervention) data for this analysis are from the Reaching Married Adolescents (RMA) Study, a cluster randomized control trial testing the efficacy of a family planning promotion intervention. Logistic regression models showed spousal contraceptive communication was significantly positively associated with ever use of modern contraception and overt modern contraceptive method use while associations with covert contraceptive use were not significant. Results suggest that conversations about contraception may lead to improved contraceptive method use with male partners’ knowledge. Findings are critical to inform content of contraceptive uptake interventions that seek to engage men regarding fertility and reproductive health decisions.

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 Presented in Session 119. Couple Dynamics of Sex, Contraception, and Fertility