Contraceptive use to delay first birth and its associated factors among married young women in rural parts of central Oromia, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, young women's pregnancy is a serious public health issue that hurts the health outcomes of both the mother and child. However, no research has been done on the use of contraceptives to delay first birth and associated factors among married young women aged 15-24 in Ethiopia.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the contraceptive use to delay first birth and its associated factors among married young women in rural parts of central Oromia, Ethiopia, in 2024.DesignA community-based cross-sectional study design was employed.MethodsThe sample size for the study was 422 married young women. A census was conducted to obtain a sample frame, and a simple random sampling method was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. The collected data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 23 for further analysis. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with contraceptive use to delay first birth, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered significant.ResultsThe overall contraceptive use to delay first birth among married young women was 16.3%, with a 95% CI (12.8, 20.3). The following were found to be factors associated with the use of contraceptives to delay first birth among married young women: exposure to contraceptive information. AOR=4.36; [95% CI: (2.14, 8.86), p=0.001], a favorable attitude toward contraceptive methods (95% CI: (1.72, 7.31)), and p=0.001]; intention to use contraceptives AOR=4.16; (95% CI: (1.96, 8.84); p < 0.001); perceived social approval AOR=3.48; (95% CI: (1.65, 7.35)); p=0.001; beliefs about contraceptive myths at the community level) [AOR=3.74; 95% CI: (1.82, 7.66); p < 0.001); and family planning counseling [AOR=5.19; 95% CI: (2.43, 11.08); p < 0.001) were among the significant variables associated with contraceptive use to delay first birth among young married women.ConclusionsThe contraceptive use to delay first birth among married young women was low. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and program designers should intensify their efforts to create awareness about the importance of contraceptive utilization among young married women to delay their first birth.