Contraceptive Continuation among Adolescent Girls in Kenya: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study

Charles Kingori, Population Services Kenya
Mary Phillips, Population Services International
Winnie Musubika, Population Services International
Abednego Musau, Population Services International (PSI)
Harmon Momanyi, Population Services Kenya
Lydiah Ndungu, Population Services Kenya

Reducing unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls requires the initiation and continued use of contraception by those at risk. Currently, there is limited evidence about the strategies that work to promote contraceptive continuation among adolescent girls. This prospective longitudinal study tracked contraceptive continuation among adolescent girls participating in a reproductive health program in Kenya. Data collection spanned 12 months, with follow-up assessments conducted every 3 months. In addition to estimating continuation rates at each timepoint, univariable logistic regression was performed to establish associations between selected covariates and contraceptive continuation for the initiation method at the 12 –months’ timepoint. Study participants were 670 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years who initiated or restarted modern contraceptive use. We observed a decline in contraceptive method continuation over the 12-month follow-up period, with rates decreasing from 98.1% at three months to 88.0% at twelve months. Contraceptive continuation was positively associated with being married and negatively associated with ongoing school attendance. We demonstrated high 12-month contraceptive continuation rates among adolescent girls compared to the national average for all reproductive age women. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific components of the program responsible for the high continuation rates and to assess the generalizability of these findings.

Keywords: Family Planning and Contraception, Gender Dynamics, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Children, Adolescents, and Youth

See extended abstract.