Exploring Spatial Variations, Trend and Effect of Exposure to Media as an Enhancer to Uptake of Modern Family Planning Methods: Evidence from 2003 to 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

The use of family planning (FP) methods is still very low in most developing countries especially Nigeria. Understanding the trend and determinants has become important in developing interventions to enhance uptake of modern methods. The effect of knowledge of sources of information on family planning and other reproductive health issues can also aid in proper targeting of interventions. In order to understand the progress in the use of modern FP in Nigeria, this paper utilized data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey from 2003 to 2018 to analyse trend, spatial variations and the determinants over the fifteen year period. Structured additive regression approach that is motivated by Bayesian framework was employed. Effects of metrical covariates were modelled through smooth functions based on Bayesian P-splines while Gaussian Markov random field prior was assumed for the spatial effect. The findings exhibit north–south divide in the use of modern FP with women from the northern part of the country being less likely to adopt modern FP. The source of information about FP reveal that women who got informed through radio, television, magazine, FP worker or someone were more likely to use a method; women from households where the husband wants more children were less likely to adopt modern FP but where they both want the same or the husband wants fewer, the odds of using modern FP are higher. Findings are meant to aid evidence-based decision making that can contribute towards attaining the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.