Socioeconomic Determinants of Contraceptive use Among Women with Disabilities in Yobe State, Nigeria
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Abstract
Access to contraception is a fundamental component of sexual and reproductive health and a key determinant of women’s autonomy and wellbeing. However, women with disabilities remain disproportionately excluded from family planning services, particularly in low-resource settings. This study examined the socioeconomic determinants of contraceptive use among women with disabilities in Yobe State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted, involving 459 women with disabilities aged 15 years and above selected from Potiskum, Damaturu, and Yusufari Local Government Areas. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarise respondents’ socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, while chi-square tests were used to assess the associations between educational attainment, employment status, and contraceptive use. The findings showed that the majority of respondents were married, predominantly Muslim, and belonged to diverse ethnic groups. Educational attainment was generally low, with most respondents having only Islamic/Qur’anic or no formal education, and unemployment was widespread. The chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant associations between educational level and contraceptive use, as well as between employment status and contraceptive use. Women with higher levels of education and those who were employed or self-employed demonstrated higher contraceptive uptake. These results indicate that education and employment are critical determinants of contraceptive use among women with disabilities in Yobe State, operating within a broader context of gender norms, religious beliefs, and disability-related stigma. The findings therefore suggest that reproductive health policies and programmes in Yobe State should prioritise disability-inclusive education, employment and livelihood support for women with disabilities, and the integration of disability-sensitive family planning services within existing maternal and reproductive health frameworks.
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