Women's credit programs and family planning in rural Bangladesh
Amin, R.; Li YiPing; Ahmed, A.U.
International Family Planning Perspectives 22(4): 158-162
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-3187 DOI: 10.2307/2950813Document Number: 324345
It is noted that in many developing countries, programmes offering collateral-free credit have integrated economic improvements with consciousness-raising, family planning information and motivation, preventive health services and other activities that promote social welfare. A 1995 household survey (total sample size of 3 564 married women under age 50, divided into 2 364 women from 50 programme areas, and 1 200 women from 30 comparison areas) of the programme areas of five NGOs in rural Bangladesh that offer such credit programmes reveals that women who participate in them are more likely to use contraceptives, to want no additional children and to desire smaller families than women who do not participate or who live outside of program areas. Increased empowerment was associated with the desire for no more children among credit members. Non-members living in programme areas also desired smaller families, suggesting a diffusion of norms established by credit members to other women in the community.