Bolivia Survey: Rhythm Accounts for One-Half Of All Contraceptive Use

Abstract

Bolivias 1994 Demographic and Health Survey documented a 50% increase in contraceptive usage in the five years since the previous survey from 30% in 1989 to 45% in 1994. Of concern however was the lack of reliance on modern methods despite the finding that 75% of contraceptors were attempting to limit rather than postpone childbearing. 22% of all married respondents used rhythm for contraception yet a quarter of these women were unable to identify the fertile period of the menstrual cycle. The IUD the most commonly used modern method was selected by 8% of women in union. The total fertility rate in the three years preceding the survey was 4.8; there were large differentials in this rate however between urban and rural women (6.3 and 3.8 respectively) and the least and most educated women (6.5 and 2.7 respectively). 45% of respondents reported that their current or most recent pregnancy was not wanted; overall 72% of women in union wanted no more children. In 1994 the unmet need for family planning was 24% (18% to limit and 6% to space births) with higher levels among rural women (34%) and the least educated (36%). Had Bolivian women had only wanted births during the survey period the total fertility rate would have been 2.7 compared to 4.8. The 1994 survey also documented a 24% decline in infant and child mortality a 62% decrease in maternal mortality during pregnancy and a 23% drop in childbirth-associated maternal mortality since 1989. 57% of most recent births occurred at home and 43% were attended by a physician.