The role of hormonal contraceptive use in mediating sociodemographic predictors of overweight/obesity among women of reproductive age in Ghana

Bibliographic Data

ID19590716
AuthorsShaibu Issifu (0000-0002-2697-1476, Catholic University College of Ghana, corresponding author), Lydia Sarponmaa Asante (Catholic University College of Ghana, corresponding author), Issah Sumaila (0000-0003-3332-1305, Kintampo Health Research Centre, corresponding author), Debora Awuah Appietuah (0000-0002-3828-0760, Catholic University College of Ghana, corresponding author), Anthony Twum (0000-0002-5358-1115, Kintampo Health Research Centre, corresponding author), Helen Agodzo (Ghana Health Service, corresponding author), Michael Opoku-Mireku (0000-0002-1671-1320, Catholic University College of Ghana, corresponding author)
EditorsAdriana A E Biney (0000-0002-7188-0135), Adriana Biney
Year2025
Volume5
Issue11
Pagese0004823
Publication date2025-11-04
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0004823
PMID41187132
OpenAlexW4415884630
LanguageEN
References cited37

The global rise in overweight and obesity poses significant public health challenges, contributing to premature mortality and preventable disabilities. Moreover, efforts to increase reproductive autonomy through the promotion of modern contraceptive methods are underway, with persisting concerns regarding their potential influence on weight gain. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with overweight and obesity and to examine the mediating role of hormonal contraceptive usage among Ghanaian women of reproductive age. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, which involved 6,181 women aged 20 years and above. The data was cleaned and analysed with Stata Corp version 18. Associations between overweight/obesity and various sociodemographic factors were assessed, and survey-adjusted logistic regression model was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Survey-adjusted mediation analysis was performed via structural equation modelling to evaluate the indirect effects of hormonal contraceptives use on the relationships between the independent variables and BMI. The analysis revealed that factors such as age, highest educational attainment, marital status, religion, residential status, region, nature of employment, and wealth quintile were significantly associated with high BMI with the exception of contraceptive usage. The results of the mediation showed that, hormonal contraceptives had no significant indirect role on the relationship between high BMI and its covariates. The study revealed several determinants of high BMI, however, hormonal contraceptives neither directly nor indirectly influenced high BMI. Whereas, there is the need to integrate weight management counselling into family planning for general well-being, there is the need to intensify education to dispel misconception about the weight gain associated with the usage of hormonal contraceptives to maximize the uptake of contraceptives and improve the overall health of women in Ghana

Family planning · Hormonal contraception · Logistic regression · Marital status · Mediation · Obesity · Overweight · Public health · Reproductive health · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Global Maternal and Child Health · Reproductive Health and Contraception

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