Oral contraception in Bangladesh: social marketing and the importance of husbands
Davies, J.; Mitra, S.N.; Schellstede, W.P.
Studies in Family Planning 18(3): 157-168
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-3665 PMID: 3617122 DOI: 10.2307/1966810Document Number: 347440
The study examined the characteristics of three types of commercial providers of oral contraceptives, as well as users and users' husbands according to rural-urban residence in Bangladesh. The study also examined how and from whom users and/or their husbands obtain oral contraceptives and instructions for use. The socioeconomic level of providers and user-couples was, on average, higher than for the general population. Husbands were particularly important for obtaining supplies from the commercial sector and acting as instructors. The findings suggest that: (1) a special effort will be required if social marketing techniques are to increase oral contraceptive prevalence among the rural poor in Bangladesh; and (2) family planning researchers and managers should give more attention to husbands in countries such as Bangadesh where men dominate communication networks.