MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNMARRIED FEMALE ADOLESCENT AGE 15-19 YEARS IN SIBU SIRE HIGHSCHOOL, EAST WOLLEGA ZONE, ETHIOPIA, 2024

Background: Contraception utilization reduces pregnancy-related health risks for women, particularly among unmarried adolescent girls. However, fewer than 30% of 15 to 19 years adolescents utilize contraception globally. Despite these there are a few studies done regarding the contraceptive utilization and its barriers in Ethiopia. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the level of modern contraceptives utilization and associated factors among unmarried female adolescent aged 15-19 years in Sibu Sire High School, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: An Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 404 unmarried female adolescents aged 15-19 years in Sibu Sire high schools using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using pretested self-administered questionnaire. The collected data was coded and entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS v.27 for the final analysis. A Bivariate and multivariable logistic analysis was conducted. Variables with P-value <0.25 in bivariate logistic regression analysis was entered to multivariable logistic regression analysis to control the possible effect of confounders and identify significant predictors of modern contraceptive utilization while p-value<0.05, at 95% confidence interval was considered as cut off point to declare the presence of statistically significant association. Results: A total of 400 unmarried female adolescents aged 15-19 participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 99%. The findings indicated that the magnitude of modern contraceptive (MC) utilization was 24% (95% CI: 20.0-28.5). Factors significantly associated with MC utilization included older age (AOR = 3.58, 95% CI: 1.69-7.54), higher grade level (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.68-7.39), receipt of voluntary counseling and testing services (AOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.94-8.58), the presence of a youth club in school (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.33-5.14), a history of abortion (AOR = 3.49, 95% CI: 1.73-7.09), and discussions about MCs with boyfriends (AOR = 4.18, 95% CI: 2.32-7.55). Conclusion: The study concluded that the magnitude of modern contraceptive utilization among unmarried female adolescents in the study area was a relatively low. The study also identified older age, higher grade level, receipt of voluntary counseling and testing services, the presence of a youth club in school, a history of abortion, and discussions about contraceptives with boyfriends as key determinant factors of MC utilization among the study participants.