Determinants of Contraceptive Method Choice in Thailand

Abstract

The determinants of contraceptive method choice in Thailand were investigated through analysis of data from the 1984 Contraceptive Prevalence Survey. Contraceptive prevalence increased from 14% in 1969 to 64% in 1984 with the greatest increases recorded for sterilization (from 13% in 1978 to 22% in 1984). Multivariate regression analysis indicated that age rural/urban residence education labor force status region religion and parity were significant determinants of contraceptive method choice. Younger women are the most likely to adopt modern methods of contraception. Those in rural areas are most likely to use oral contraceptives injectable contraception or the IUD reflecting the services offered by government health centers in rural areas. Buddhists particularly those living in the Central Region had higher rates of contraceptive usage than Moslems. Women with 4 or more years of education were more likely to use modern methods of contraception than those with lesser levels of education. Low parity women were more likely to be nonusers than women of higher parity. The finding that there were no differences in rates of use of modern methods of contraception between women in Bangkok and in rural areas testifies to the effectiveness of family planning service delivery in rural Thailand. However these findings also indicated that women with no education Moslems and Southern Thais are continuing to rely on traditional methods particularly withdrawal or no method and should be targeted for intensive family planning education and motivation.