ABSTRACT Introduction In Cameroon, 24% of adolescents have already begun childbearing, and 16.2% experience a subsequent pregnancy within 7–17 months after their first birth. Nearly 80% of these pregnancies are unplanned, highlighting the critical need for effective contraceptive use among adolescents. This study aimed to identify independent predictors of non‐use of modern contraceptive methods (MCM) during the postpartum period among adolescent mothers in Yaounde. Methodology We conducted a hospital‐based case‐control study at the Gynaecological‐Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital and the Yaoundé Central Hospital, from August 2022 to May 2023. The cases were adolescent mothers who did not use modern contraceptive methods postpartum, and the controls were those who did. Data were collected via telephone interviews, entered into CSPro version 7.7, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Results We recruited 206 adolescent mothers (103 cases, 103 controls). Factors associated with non‐use of modern contraceptive methods were being single (aOR= 5.27; p = 0.001), having given birth twice or more (aOR= 0.48; p = 0.037), or vaginally (aOR = 2.11; p = 0.025) and having had a newborn admitted to neonatology (aOR = 0.61; p = 0.034). These factors also included missed postpartum appointments (aOR = 2.95; p = 0.029) and non‐attendance at FP services (aOR = 12.35; p < 0.001). Conclusion Modifiable factors such as missed postpartum visits, non‐attendance at family planning, and neonatal complications prevent adolescent mothers from using modern contraceptives. Targeted interventions on these factors could increase uptake and reduce repeat unplanned pregnancies.
Batoum et al. (Wed,) studied this question.