Migrant Women’s Use of Modern Contraception in Cotonou, Benin Republic

Evidence shows that migration, especially from rural areas and small cities to large cities, has critical consequences for sexual and reproductive health services utilization. Very few studies address the issue of contraceptive use among internal migrants in cities of sub-Saharan Africa countries, partly because of the limitations of available data. This study aimed to investigate the associations between migration status and modern contraceptive use and to examine whether and how the effect of migration status changes when it is disaggregated by length of residence, and reason for migration. Data from a survey conducted in Cotonou, the largest city of Benin Republic, from March-May 2018 were used. The study enrolled 792 (1,068 weighted) sexually active women, with the exception of those who reported being pregnant at the time of the survey. The socio- economic and demographic characteristics of the sample were described—this include the percentage of migrants, the length of residence and whether the migration was for school or job reason. Finally, a set of three logistic regression models were computed. These models present: (i) the crude effect of migration on modern contraceptive use, (ii) the effect of migration on modern contraceptive use after adjusting for socio- economic and demographic characteristics, and (iii) the joint effect of migration and reason for migration on modern contraceptive use—while still controlling for socio- economic and demographic characteristics. The results firstly show that there was non-significant association between internal migration and modern contraceptive use. Then, statistically significant differences emerged when migration status is interacted with reason for migration. Migrants in Cotonou for school or work motive had the highest probability of using modern contraception (32%), compared with the other groups (predicted probability values ranging from 17% to 21%). In conclusion, disaggregating migration status by reason for migration leads to better understanding of the effect migration status has on modern contraceptive use