Abstract
Analysis of data on 1942 urban mothers who participated in the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey during 1983-84 revealed differences in contraceptive usage and prenatal care depending upon employment status. The women were interviewed during the third trimester of pregnancy within 3 days of delivery and bimonthly for 2 years postpartum. At baseline 58% were not working for pay 18% were self-employed 9% did piecework 7% had professional positions and 7% were blue-collar workers. Only 18% had secondary or higher education while 33% had primary education and 49% little or no schooling. Professional women were most likely to have had 2 or more prenatal visits in the first 5 months of pregnancy (57%) followed by women who were not working for pay (23%) self-employed or blue-collar workers (22%) and pieceworkers (15%). Controlling for background variables professional women were twice as likely as women who did not work for pay to have had 2 or more early prenatal visits and this was not linked to higher earnings. Half of the 1556 women who were not pregnant 1 year postpartum were not using contraception (23% were using traditional methods; 27% modern methods). Professional and self-employed women were most likely to be using a method (63% and 59% respectively) while only 38% of blue-collar workers used a method. The study concluded that jobs that afforded women greater autonomy were associated with greater likelihood of using contraception and health services.
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