Effectiveness of contraception in Belgium: results of the Second National Fertility Survey, 1971 (Nego ii)
Cliquet, R.L.; Schoenmaeckers, R.; Klinkenborg, L.
Journal of Biosocial Science 9(4): 403-416
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9320 PMID: 914888 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932000011251Document Number: 360207
The percentage of accidental pregnancies, the Pearl pregnancy rate and the life-table method were all used to study the effectiveness of contraception in Belgium, using data for the Second National Fertility Survey (1971), which covered 3397 Belgian women in the age group 30-34 yr. Though all 3 methods yield generally similar results, it is only by using the 3rd method that changes in contraceptive effectiveness by birth order and birth interval can be obtained. Generally, contraceptive effectiveness is low, the cumulative failure rate for the first 12 mo. of all intervals amounting to 18%. This holds even for intrinsically extremely reliable methods, such as the pill (4%). The efficiency of contraception improved with increasing duration of marriage. This was attributable not only to a shift towards more effective methods, but also to a better application of less reliable methods, such as withdrawal. It remains questionable whether the increase in effectiveness, especially of a method such as withdrawal, was not partially based on induced abortion. The findings also revealed the dual aspect of the contraceptive behavior in the sample: spacing until desired family size is achieved and prevention thereafter. The efficiency of contraception decreases with increasing family size, whatever birth interval is considered.