The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70401

Mizanur Rahman, PhD¹, Julie DaVanzo, PhD², and Abdur Razaaque, PhD¹. (1) Technical Services, Pathfinder International, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, MA 02472, 617-924-7200, ghainsworth@pathfind.org, (2) Family in Economic Development Center, RAND, 1700 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407

Many developing countries, which have achieved low fertility are characterized by the high use of permanent and long-term methods (PLTM). Thus, program managers tend to believe that family planning programs should promote PLTM to effectively and quickly reduce fertility in developing countries. Bangladesh a poor country, with the highest population density in the world, has been known as a success story for family planning programs as fertility has declined from over 6.5 children in the 1970s to 3.3 in the early 1990s. Therefore the authors conducted a study that examined the contraceptive method choice of Bangladeshi women and its relation to fertility.

A group of women who already have achieved replacement-level or nearly replacement-level fertility were identified. Data was obtained from the Bangladesh DHS 2000, MEASURE Surveys of RSDP and UFHP 2000-2001, and from ICDDR/B 1995-1999 on desired fertility, actual fertility, contraceptive use, and socio-economic variables and analyzed.

The results of the study showed that urban and educated women desired to have below replacement-level and nearly replacement-level fertility, respectively. Many of them, both in urban and rural areas, have already achieved replacement-level fertility. Most of the urban and rural women who achieved low fertility depended on temporary methods like pills, condoms, and even traditional methods therefore challenging the belief that PLTM are needed to achieve low fertility. In fact, PLTM use was more common among women who have high fertility. These findings will help family planning programs design effective contraceptive method-mix strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to:
• 1. Evaluate the contraceptive method-choice behavior of Bangladeshi women; and
• 2. Identify the evidence based on which an effective contraceptive method-mix design can be developed for Bangladesh and other developing countries

Keywords: Contraception, Developing Countries

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.