The use of modern and traditional methods of fertility control in Bangladesh: a multivariate analysis
Ullah, M.S.; Chakraborty, N.
Contraception 50(4): 363-372
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 7813224 DOI: 10.1016/0010-7824(94)90023-xDocument Number: 286777
The use pattern of traditional and modern methods of fertility control was studied among currently married women of reproductive age utilizing the data extracted from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey (BFS) conducted during December 1988 to April 1989. This national two-stage probability sample survey selected 175 rural and 100 urban clusters. At the second stage, from 11,236 households (7984 rural and 3252 urban) a total of 11,906 ever-married women under 50 years old (8467 rural and 3439 urban) were successfully interviewed, constituting the reference population. Bivariate analysis studied the differentials in the use pattern by some selected demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Also, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent contributions of each selected covariate. There was universal knowledge about contraceptive methods. The contraceptive prevalence rate amounted to 31%; 23% were using modern methods and 8% relied on traditional methods. Logistic regression showed that visits of family planning workers had very strong positive influence on the current use of modern contraceptives as compared to traditional methods. Duration of marriage influenced modern method use negatively. Residents of Rajshahi division were significantly more likely (relative odds of 2.5) to use modern methods than residents of Chittagong division. Women having electricity in their household were almost 2 times more likely to be current users of modern contraceptives compared to women without electricity. Non-Muslim women were significantly less likely to use modern contraceptives (relative odds of 0.5) compared to Muslim women. Women whose husbands had secondary and higher levels of education were 1.5 times more likely to use modern methods than women whose husbands lacked education. However, wives of landowners were less likely (relative odds of 0.72) to use modern methods vs. traditional methods than wives of laborers or farmers. Women who discussed family planning with their husbands tended to use modern contraceptives more (relative odds of 1.5) than those who did not.