Young, low-parity women: critical target group for family planning in Bangladesh
Alauddin, M.; Vanlandingham, M.
Asia-Pacific Population Journal 4(1): 49-58
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0259-238X PMID: 12315771 Document Number: 381893
After years of persistent low levels, contraceptive prevalence in Bangladesh is beginning to rise, although slowly. Much of the increase in contraceptive prevalence in recent years is attributable to higher rates of acceptance among relatively older, high-parity couples. While rather high increases in contraceptive prevalence have been achieved for women with 3 or more living children, the gain for families with 2 or fewer living children have not been impressive. The importance of targeting young, low-parity couples for family planning services cannot be overemphasized. Women 15-24 years old make up 44% of all women of reproductive age. Also, there are large cohorts of girls just below reproductive age that will soon begin having children. Recent studies show a surprisingly high demand for contraception among younger couples. A complete registration of eligible couples in each fieldworker's area must be completed. Fieldworker and supervisor training must be adapted to focus on this target group. The provision of maternal-child health services becomes increasingly important as more young couples are brought into the program. Temporary birth control methods should make up a larger proportion of the country's method-mix target. The current family planning media campaign should highlight the health benefits for mother and child of family planning used for spacing. The government should continue to promote the small family norm. More effort should be made to influence community and religious leaders and men in general. Immunization and other child survival activities should be intensified.