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There is no significant difference in ever use of modern methods between married men and
women, with 15 percent of currently married men age 15-59 having ever used a modern method.
However, ever use of traditional methods is nearly three times higher among married men (16 percent)
than among married women (6 percent). The difference in ever use of traditional methods is due to
higher reporting of periodic abstinence by married men than women (15 percent versus 5 percent).
The most common ever-used modern method among currently married women and men is the
pill (11 percent each), followed by injectables (6 percent and 7 percent, respectively). The most
common ever-used traditional method among both currently married women and men is periodic
abstinence.
Ever use of any method among currently married women rises from 11 percent among the
youngest cohort to about 19 percent among women age 25-39 and falls thereafter to 16 percent among
women age 40-44 and 9 percent among women age 45-49. The pill is the most commonly used method
among women regardless of age group. Traditional methods fall in popularity at older ages.
5.3 CURRENT USE OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS
This section focuses on the levels, differentials, and trends in the current use of family planning
methods. The contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for currently married women who are currently using
a method of family planning is 8 percent for Ethiopia (Table 5.5). The CPR for modern methods is
6 percent, while only 2 percent of currently married women are using traditional methods (Figure 5.1).
There is a marked discrepancy between ever use and current use of family planning. Whereas
17 percent of married women have used a method of family planning at some time, only 8 percent are
currently using a method. The difference between ever use and current use is highest for the pill,
implying a high discontinuation among pill users. The level of current use of any method among
currently married men is nearly twice (15 percent) that among women. The corresponding numbers for
modern and traditional methods are 9 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
The most widely used modern methods among currently married women and men are injectables
and pill (3 percent each among women and 4 percent each among men ). Condom use was negligible
(less than 1 percent) among both currently married women and men. Periodic abstinence is the most
commonly practiced traditional method used by 2 percent and 6 percent of currently married women
and men, respectively. Much of the male-female difference in current use is due to higher reporting of
the use of traditional methods, especially periodic abstinence, by men (Figure 5.1).
Table 5.5 shows that current use is relatively high among sexually active unmarried women.
Four in ten sexually active unmarried women reported that they are using a method, and more than onethird
of them are using a modern method. The pill and condom are the most widely used modern
methods among sexually active unmarried women and men, with 18 percent of women and 6 percent
of men using the pill and 11 percent of women and 20 percent of men using the condom.
Current use varies by women’s age and is lowest among currently married women age 15-19 and
highest among women age 35-39. Use of modern methods is 8 percent among women age 25-39. The
pill is the most popular method among women age 15-19 and 30-34, while injectables are most popular
among women at all other age groups. Traditional methods, especially periodic abstinence, are most
used by women age 35-39.
52 * Fertility Regulation