 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Ubaidur Rob, Ph D, Population Council, House # CES (B) 21, Road # 118, Gulshan, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh, 880 2 882-3334, urob@pcdhaka.org and Marium ul Mutahara, MA, House CES (B) 21, Population Council, Road 118, Gulshan, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
Menstrual Regulation (MR) is a popular method of pregnancy termination in Bangladesh although little is known about the decision making process of MR acceptance. This article intends to examine the experience of women who have accepted MR services and their decision making process. The data was collected through in-depth interviews. The findings suggest that irregular use of oral contraceptives resulted to unwanted pregnancy and subsequent pregnancy termination. Both younger and older women terminated pregnancy on different account: health, spacing, economic and limiting family size. Younger women decide to terminate pregnancy primarily due to spacing and economic hardships. But older women did it for limiting the family size. Joint decision-making is common and in few cases in-laws were involved. The decision making process is not complex and in most cases expedited by knowledge of another MR acceptor. Husbands rarely accompanied their spouses to the service centers but provided both logistical and financial support. Education seems to be less important factor compared to proximity to MR acceptors. Difficult marital relationships lead women to take independent decision to terminate pregnancy. Family planning field workers played the dominant role in suggesting the type of service provider and facility from where MR services were obtained. Social norms, particularly community leaders’ attitude towards the acceptance of MR created unfavorable condition for the accepters. An enabling policy environment will allow women better access to service delivery and meet their reproductive health goals.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Reproductive Health, Decision-Making
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.