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. 2025 Aug 25;10:53. doi: 10.1186/s40834-025-00392-1

Table 1.

Percent distribution of background characteristics of sexually active women (15–49 years), 2016 DHS, South Africa

Background characteristics DHS 2016 (N = 7,041)
Number Percent
Age
15–24 1769 25.1
25–34 2551 36.2
35–49 2720 38.6
Residence
Urban 4750 67.5
Rural 2291 32.5
Educational level
None 150 2.1
Primary 633 9.0
Secondary 5361 76.1
Higher 897 12.7
Marital status
Never married 3803 54.0
Married 2789 39.6
Formally married 449 6.4
Wealth status
Poor 2797 39.7
Middle 1523 21.6
Rich 2720 38.6
Employment status
Not working 4322 61.4
Working 2719 38.6
Living children
Zero 1274 18.1
One 2014 28.6
Two – Three 3002 42.6
Four or more 750 10.7
Visited health facility in the last 12 months
No 2123 30.2
Yes 4917 69.8
Woman’s decision-making autonomy
No 4610 65.5
Yes 2431 34.5
Ideal number of children
Zero 448 6.4
One – Two 3179 45.2
Three – Four 2883 41.0
Five or more 530 7.5
Sensory disability status
No sensory disability 6267 89.0
Have sensory disability 773 11.0
Ownership of mobile phone
No 473 6.7
Yes 6568 93.3
Exposure to FP Messages
No 3155 44.8
Yes 3886 55.2