Determinants of contraceptive method choice in an industrial city of India

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of contraceptive method choice in Jamshedpur, an industrial city in Bihar State, one of the few areas in India that enjoys a "cafeteria approach" to family planning method selection. While contraceptive prevalence in India is about 35%, Jamshedpur has a prevalence rate close to 60%. One of Jamshedpur's special programs is the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) Family Welfare Programme, which provides an array of services to both employees and nonemployees. In 1983, TISCO commissioned the International Institute for Populations Studies (IIPS) to evaluate its programs. Based on the findings of an IIPS survey of 2376 currently married women between the ages of 15-44, this study attempts to identify determinants of contraceptive method choice. For its analysis, the study used a multinomial method choice. For its analysis, the study used a multinomial logit regression, a model appropriate for studying the relationships between a number of covariates and a dependent variable (the contraceptive method used) that has more than 2 possible outcomes (female sterilization, male sterilization, condom, female temporary method, natural methods, or no method). The survey examined the following covariates: religion/caste, mother tongue, husband's occupation, place of employment, age at consummation of marriage, husband's education, wife's education, marriage duration, survival status of last child, number and sex of living children, and attitude variables. The study found that religion, mother tongue, and educational levels are important determinants of acceptance and method choice. The number of children -- especially sons -- also affected contraceptive use, rising as family size increases. The study revealed that the Jamshedpur population did exercise choice in clear patterns when the choices were made available.