Socioeconomic inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Benin: a decomposition analysis

BackgroundContraceptive use is crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 Evidence of socioeconomic inequality in the use of modern contraceptives is essential to address the developing inequality in its utilisation given the low prevalence of contraceptive use among women in Benin This study examined the socioeconomic inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Benin MethodsWe performed a cross sectional analysis of the 2017 18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data A weighted sample of 7 360 sexually active women of reproductive age was included in the study We used a concentration curve to plot the cumulative proportion of women using modern contraception Decomposition analysis was conducted to determine factors accounting for the socioeconomic disparities in modern contraceptive use ResultsWe noted that the richest women had higher odds of modern contraceptive use adjusted odds ratio aOR 1 67 CI 1 22 2 30 compared to the poorest women Other factors that showed significant associations with modern contraception use were age marital status religious affiliation employment status parity women s educational level and ethnicity We found that modern contraceptive use is highly concentrated among the rich with rich women having a higher propensity of using modern contraception relative to the poor Also the disadvantaged to modern contraceptive use included the poor those aged 45 49 married women those working those with four or more live births rural residents and women of Bariba and related ethnicity Conversely favourable concentration in modern contraceptive use was found among the rich women aged 20 24 the divorced women with two live births the highly educated those with media exposure and women of Yoruba and related ethnicity ConclusionThe study has shown that wealthy women are more likely to utilize contraceptives than the poor This is because wealthy women could afford both the service itself and the travel costs to the health facility hen