Factors associated with decision making power of women to use family planning among married women in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel analysis of demographic health surveys

Abstract Background: In sub-Saharan Africa there are several socio-economic and cultural factors which affect women’s ability to make decision regarding their own health including contraceptive usage. The main aim of this study was to determine factors associated with decision making power of women to use family planning in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: The appended, most recent demographic and health survey datasets of 35 sub-Saharan countries were used. A total weighted sample of 83,882 women were included in the study. Both bivariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regression were done to determine the associated factors of decision making power of women to use family planning in SSA. The Odds Ratio (OR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated for those potential variables included in the final model. Results: Those married women with primary education (AOR=1.24; CI:1.16,1.32),secondary education (AOR=1.31; CI:1.22,1.41), higher education (AOR=1.36; CI:1.20,1.53),media exposure(AOR=1.08; CI: 1.03, 1.13), currently working (AOR=1.27; CI: 1.20, 1.33), antenatal care visit of 1-3 (AOR=1.12; CI:1.05,1.20) and ≥ 4 ANC visit (AOR=1.14;CI:1.07,1.21), women who were informed about family planning (AOR=1.09; CI: 1.04, 1.15), women who had less than 3 children(AOR=1.12; CI: 1.02, 1.23) and 3-5 children (AOR=1.08; CI: 1.01, 1.16) had higher odds of decision making power to use family planning than their counter parts. Besides, mothers with age of 15-19 (AOR=0.61; CI: 0.52, 0.72), 20-24 (AOR= 0.69; CI: 0.60, 0.79), 25-29 (AOR=0.74; CI: 0.66, 0.84), and 30-34 years (AOR=0.82; CI: 0.73, 0.92) had reduced chance of decision making power of women to use family planning. Conclusion: Age, women’s level of education, occupation of women and their husband, wealth index, media exposure, ANC visit, fertility preference, husband’s desire number of children, region and information about family planning were factors associated with decision making power to use family planning among married women.