Modern contraceptive utilization and associated factors among street working reproductive age women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Street women are women, who make their living on the streets by begging, sleeping in the streets, or on the sides of roads. They are the most marginalized and neglected segment of society, with little access to health care, including modern contraception, and a lack of knowledge about health services, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine modern contraceptive utilization and associated factors among street women.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on observational community-based studies published from January 2010 up to February 1, 2023. PubMed, Google Scholar, HINAR, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and grey literature were used to search primary studies. We used Microsoft Excel for data entry and extracting data. STATA-17 statistical software was used to analyze the data as well and I2 tests evaluated study heterogeneity. The pooled utilization of the modern contraceptive method was predicted using a random-effect model.

RESULTS

A total of eight studies were included. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization was 51.89% (95% CI: 40.89-62.9). Being married (OR = 4.22, 95%CI, 2.75-6.49); facing a history of sexual assault/rape at a street life (OR = 3.59, 95%CI, 2.46-5.23); age between 25-35 years (OR = 3.27, 95%CI, 1.73-6.18), getting advise from the health professionals (OR = 6.23, 95%CI, 1.44-27.07), having a history of pregnancy in street life (OR = 1.90, 95%CI, 1.28-2.81) and no more children wanted (OR = 2.47, 95%CI, 1.52-5.00) were significantly associated with modern contraceptive utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled modern contraceptive utilization was suboptimal. Every concerned body or stakeholder should give more consideration to their lifestyles and living conditions by raising awareness and providing access to contraception.