Gender power dynamics and contraceptive decision-making among sexually active girls and young women in Nigeria

This qualitative study explored how gender power dynamics shape the decisions of girls and young women in Sagamu Local Government Area (Ogun State) and Benin City (Edo State), Nigeria, regarding romantic relationships, sexual activity, contraceptive use and pregnancy prevention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 participants (7 pregnant young mothers and 7 sexually active non-mothers), recruited through criterion-based and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis revealed that financial dependence, emotional attachment and the need for companionship were key motivations for relationships. Although awareness of modern contraception was common, its use was limited by misconceptions, fear of side effects, male partner resistance and constrained negotiation ability. Gender power imbalances, exacerbated by age and economic disparities, fundamentally undermined reproductive autonomy. Nonetheless, glimpses of sexual and reproductive agency were evident in the active assertion of sexual desire and in the varied strategies participants employed to negotiate contraceptive use. Findings indicate that addressing adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria requires moving beyond contraceptive knowledge dissemination. Interventions must be gender-sensitive, empower girls and young women to negotiate sexual and reproductive decisions, and address underlying structural inequalities to strengthen relational autonomy.