Youth contraceptive data.

Contraceptive use among youth in Nigeria is crucial for improving reproductive health. Despite global advancements, barriers related to sociodemographic, cultural, and religious factors hinder access to family planning services. This study investigates a comparative analysis of factors associated with modern contraceptive use (MCU) among youth in Northern and Southern Nigeria. Data were sourced from Nigeria’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) for 2011–2021. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed on adolescents and young women aged 15–24. Descriptive statistics assessed contraceptive prevalence. Logistic regression models evaluated associations between contraceptive use and sociodemographic factors such as age, marital status, education, wealth, and region. Southern Nigeria had higher education levels (85.7% with secondary or higher education) and MCU rates (12.6%), compared to Northern Nigeria (50.7% with secondary or higher education; MCU rate of 3.9%). Wealth was a significant factor in the North (AOR = 2.233, p