Modern and traditional contraceptive behavior among rural and urban women of Bangladesh: A logistic regression analysis

Objective: To identify demographic and socioeconomic characteristics responsible for rural-urban differentials in determining the use of modern versus traditional methods of contraceptives by women in the prime childbearing ages. Data: The analysis was based on data collected as part of the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey, which consisted of a nationally representative sample of 11,906 ever-married women who were less than 50 years of age. Methods: Bivariate analysis has been employed to study the differentials in the use pattern on some selected demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Also multivariate logistic regression analysis has been used to identify independent contributions of each selected covariate. Results: Analysis using a logistic regression model showed that the respondent's age had a strong negative association on current use of modern methods as compared to traditional methods; urban as well as rural women from older age groups were significantly more likely to use traditional methods. Visits by family planning workers had a very strong and positive influence on current use of modem contraceptives in both rural and urban areas. Women's participation in decisions about family planning also influenced their choice of modern methods over traditional methods in two areas. Women with electricity in their homes, particularly in rural areas, were more likely to use modern contraceptives. Conclusion: From this study, we concluded that increased contact between Bangladeshi women and family planning workers might lead to greater use of modern methods, particularly among the rural women. In addition, if women's participation in the family planning decision-making process could be improved, perhaps by more intensive efforts at promoting income-generating and social activities for rural women, modern contraceptive practice might be increased as a result.