Table 2 Individual-and community-level characteristics of study subjects, pooled data from four SSA countries, DHS 2019–2022 (n = 12,829)

Age of respondents

15–17 years

7,807

60.85

18–19 years

5,022

39.15

Educational status

No formal education

789

6.15

Primary

3,983

31.05

Secondary and higher

8,057

62.80

Marital status

Married

1,288

11.26

Unmarried

10,147

88.74

Occupation

Not working

9,172

80.23

Working

2,260

19.77

Exposure to media

Yes

9,988

77.85

No

2,841

22.15

Household wealth status

Poor

5,703

44.45

Middle

2,639

20.57

Rich

4,487

34.98

Age at first sex

Less than 16 years

9,255

80.94

16–19 years

2,180

19.06

Contraceptive use

No

10,319

90.24

Yes

1,116

9.76

Sex of the household head

Male

8,272

64.48

Female

4,557

35.52

Relation to household head

Head/spouse

1,031

8.04

Relative or other

2,506

19.53

Daughter

9,292

72.43

Knowledge of contraceptives

Knows no methods

961

8.40

Knows traditional/modern methods

10,474

91.60

Unmet need for contraception

No

12,086

94.21

Yes

743

5.79

Residence

Urban

5,339

41.62

Rural

7,490

58.38

Community media exposure

Low

5,714

44.54

High

7,115

55.46

Community poverty level

Low

6,552

51.07

High

6,277

48.93

Community education level

Low

4,045

31.53

High

8,784

68.47

Community contraceptive utilization

Low

7,788

60.72

High

5,038

39.28