Family Planning Access Increases Contraceptive Practice, Even Among Women Who do not Intend to Use a Method

Abstract

This article examines the influence of the family planning supply environment on the contraceptive behavior of women. Data were drawn from both the 1992 Morocco Demographic and Health Survey and the 1995 Morocco Panel Survey. A total of 910 women were interviewed in the aspects of fertility desires current use of contraceptives and intention to use a method in the future. These women were within 30 km of at least one facility that offered family planning services. Median distance to a provider in rural areas was 7 km; in urban areas less than 1 km. Overall rural facilities had fewer stocks of contraceptive methods fewer staff members trained to provide family planning and a lower level of infrastructure than in the urban facilities. Findings of the multivariate analysis indicated that of the supply-side variables the number of nurses number of trained staff members and the level of method availability at the nearest clinic were associated with the intention of contraceptive usage. Furthermore women who aspire to control their fertility tend to be successful in finding alternative sources of services and supplies even when aspects of the local supply environments do not fully satisfy their needs.