Family Planning Workers Research Articles

Factors affecting modern contraceptive use among fecund young women in Bangladesh: does couples\u2019 joint participation in household decision making matter?

ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to explore the association between couples’ joint participation in household decision making and modern contraceptive use (MCU) among fecund (physically able to bear child) young women in Bangladesh.MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional data (n = 3507) extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2011. Differences in the utilization of modern contraceptives (MC) by socio-demographic characteristics were assessed by χ2 analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of usingMC, and the odds ratio with a 95% CI was computed to assess the strength of association. Multicollinearity was also checked by examining the standard errors in the fitted model.ResultsDesire for a child after two years go by and no child at all contributed the most to increasing MCU followed by receiving family planning (FP) methods from FP workers. Couples’ joint decision making power on women’s health care, child’s health care and visiting family members or relatives emerged as the third most influential factor that might be associated with MCU.ConclusionsSince spousal joint decision making increases the likelihood of using MC, government should include strategic interventions in FP programs to elevate women’s status through creating educational and employment opportunities and encouraging more visible involvement in household decision making.

A comparison of practices, distributions and determinants of birth attendance in two divisions with highest and lowest skilled delivery attendance in Bangladesh

BackgroundDelivery by skilled birth attendants (SBAs) is strongly recommended to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. The percentage of births attended by SBAs is low in Bangladesh (42% in 2014), though this rate varies widely by divisions, with the highest 58% in Khulna and only 27% in Sylhet. Comparing and critically analyzing the practices, distributions and determinants of delivery attendance in two divisions with the highest and lowest SBA attendance could help to understand the differences and to employ the findings of the high-performing division to the low-performing division.MethodsThe 7th Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS 2014) data were analyzed. After reporting the types of delivery attendants, logistic regression analyses were applied to calculate the odds ratios of determinants of deliveries attended by SBAs.ResultsSBAs attended 225 (58.6%) and 128 (27.4%) deliveries in Khulna and Sylhet, respectively. Khulna had higher birth attendance by qualified doctors (42.5%, n = 163) than Sylhet (15.8%, n = 74). Sylhet had higher attendance by traditional attendants (60.8%, n = 285) than Khulna (33.7%, n = 129). In both regions, attendance by community skilled birth attendants (CSBAs) was very low (< 1%). Khulna had higher percentages of women with higher education level, husbands’ higher education, antenatal care (ANC) visits by SBAs, and higher wealth quintiles than Sylhet.In multivariable analyses, higher education level (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 8.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9–36.7), ANC visits (AOR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.0–6.5), family planning workers’ visit (AOR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.6–5.4), and belonging to richer (AOR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.4–5.1) or richest (AOR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.9–7.6) household wealth quintiles had significant positive associations with deliveries by SBAs in Sylhet. Similarly, ANC visits (AOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4–4.6) and higher wealth quintile (AOR: 4.7; 95% CI: 1.9–11.5) were positive predictors in Khulna.ConclusionsThe higher proportion of educated women and their husbands, wealth status and ANC visits were associated with higher SBA utilization in Khulna compared to Sylhet. Improvement of socioeconomic status, increasing birth attendant awareness programs, providing ANC services, and family-planning workers’ visits could increase the proportion of SBA-attended deliveries in Sylhet Division. CSBA program should be re-evaluated for both divisions.

“Injectable Development”

Research Article| May 01 2018 “Injectable Development”: Depo-Provera and Creation of the Global South Emily Callaci Emily Callaci Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Radical History Review (2018) 2018 (131): 82–104. https://doi.org/10.1215/01636545-4355145 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter Email Permissions Search Site Citation Emily Callaci; “Injectable Development”: Depo-Provera and Creation of the Global South. Radical History Review 1 May 2018; 2018 (131): 82–104. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/01636545-4355145 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter Books & JournalsAll JournalsRadical History Review Search Advanced Search In 1972, the USFDA denied the Upjohn Corporation approval to produce and sell Depo-Provera—an injectable hormonal contraceptive—in the United States. Simultaneously, development experts promoted Depo-Provera as a form of aid to send abroad, especially in Africa and Asia. If one of the basic premises of biomedicine is the universality of the body and medical efficacy, what made Depo-Provera unsafe in one part of the world but efficacious in another? What did women around the world who were offered Depo-Provera have in common? This essay tracks how different actors—population control advocates, anti-Depo-Provera activists, and family planning workers—responded to the questions raised by Depo-Provera’s uneven global distribution. As an historical artifact, Depo-Provera reveals the multiple ways communities thought about global power at a moment of transition away from a world order structured by the logic of empires and toward a world bifurcated between Global North and South. The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Depo-Provera, contraception, Global South, feminism Copyright © 2018 by MARHO: The Radical Historians’ Organization, Inc.2018 You do not currently have access to this content.

Association between contraceptive use and socio-demographic factors of young fecund women in Bangladesh

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the association between socio-demographic factors and contraceptive use among fecund women under 25years old. MethodsThis study utilized a cross-sectional data (n=3744) extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Differences in the use of contraceptives by socio-demographic characteristics were assessed by χ2 analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of contraceptive use among young women. ResultsThis study observed that 71% fecund women aged below 25years used contraceptives. Getting family planning (FP) methods from FP workers increases the likelihood of using contraceptives among young women because outreach activities by FP workers and accessibility of FP related information pave the way of using contraceptives. Husband-wife joint participation in decision making on health care increases the likelihood of using contraceptives. Participation of women in decision making on health care could be achieved by promoting higher education and gainful employment for women. ConclusionsReproductive and sex education should be introduced in schools to prepare the young for healthy and responsible living. Moreover, policy makers should focus on developing negotiation skills in young women by creating educational and employment opportunities since husband-wife joint participation in decision making increases contraceptive use.

Unintended pregnancy among married women inDamot Gale District, Southern Ethiopia:Examining the prevalence and risk factors

The main objective of this study is to examine the prevalence and risk factors for unintended pregnancies among selected married women in Damot Gale Woreda (a district in Southern Ethiopia). A multistage sampling technique was used to select women respondents in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained using structured questionnaires, focus group discussion and key informants interview. The dependent variable is unintended pregnancy. Demographic, socio-cultural and service related characteristics were used as explanatory variables. Of 713 women surveyed, 302(42.4 %) reported that their most recent pregnancies were unintended. Most of the women (89%) knew at least one modern Family Planning (FP) methods. Further, we found that 84% of the women have never discussed FP with husbands, and 80% of women have never been visited by health workers. Major reasons mentioned for failure to avoid unintended pregnancy were lack of knowledge, disapproval by husband, difficulty to get method and method failure. The predicted probability, using logistic regression, has shown that women with delayed age at marriage, with lower parity, women exposed to radio, women who discus about FP issues with husband; those who have autonomy on their health care and those visited by FP workers are less exposed to unintended pregnancy. Finally, based on the key findings, some workable recommendations are given which includes: sustainable behavioral changes among community members, reforms in disseminating family planning and related information, enhancing women’s status at all levels through formal and non-formal education, strengthening the follow up system on FP workers and beneficiaries, improving inter- spousal communication through peer or informal education and community level orientation.

Childbearing and the use of contraceptive methods among married adolescents in Bangladesh

ABSTRACTObjectives To investigate the socioeconomic determinants of childbearing and contraceptive use among married adolescents in Bangladesh.Methods The study used the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007 data. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were used to examine the association between the socioeconomic factors and childbearing and contraceptive use among married female adolescents.Results Overall, 69% of the married adolescents initiated childbearing and 25% of the most recent pregnancies were unintended. The current contraceptive prevalence rate was 42%. The multivariate logistic regression yielded a significantly increased risk of childbearing among adolescents with no formal education, those who were married-off before age 16, the poor and those who had ever used any contraceptive method. Inter-spousal communication on family planning (FP) appeared as the most single significant determinant of any contraceptive use. Number of living children, working status and visitations by FP workers are also important determinants of contraceptive use among the married female adolescents.Conclusions Early childbearing, lower use rate of contraceptive methods and unintended pregnancies are common among married adolescents in Bangladesh. Expanded schooling and reproductive health programmes in Bangladesh should promote increased communication about FP within the couples in order to achieve successful contraception and better reproductive outcomes, particularly among adolescents.

A population based study on unintended pregnancy among married women in a district in Southern Ethiopia

This study aims at examining the prevalence and risk factors for unintended pregnancies among selected married women in Damote Gale Woreda (a district in Southern Ethiopia). A multistage sampling technique was used to select women respondents in the reproductive age group of 15 to 49 years. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained using structured questionnaires, focus group discussion and key informants interview. The dependent variable is unintended pregnancy. Demographic, socio-cultural and service related characteristics were used as explanatory variables. Of 713 women surveyed, 302(42.4%) reported that their most recent pregnancies were unintended. Most of the women (89%) knew at least one modern family planning (FP) methods. Further, we found that 84% of the women have never discussed with husbands about issues concerning FP, and 80% of women have never been visited by health workers. Major reasons mentioned for failure to avoid unintended pregnancy were lack of knowledge, disapproval by husband, difficulty to get method and method failure. The predicted probability, using logistic regression, has shown that women with delayed age at marriage, with lower parity, women exposed to radio, women who discus about FP issues with husband; those who have autonomy on their health care and those visited by FP workers are less exposed to unintended pregnancy. Finally, based on the key findings, some workable recommendations are given which includes: sustainable behavioral changes among community members, reforms in disseminating family planning and related information, enhancing women’s status at all levels through formal and non-formal education, strengthening the follow up system on FP workers and beneficiaries, improving inter-spousal communication through peer or informal education and community level orientation. Key words: Unwanted pregnancy, contraception, determinants, Southern Ethiopia, Damot Gale.

Does family planning help the employment of women? The case of India

This paper gives some insight into the existence of a positive effect of family planning programmes on women's employment in developing countries. We study married women aged 15–49 living throughout India using a sample drawn from the National Health Family Survey (NFHS-2) for 1998–1999. We focus on a programme of doorstep services delivered by health or family planning (FP) workers who are sent to visit women in their assigned areas. Results derived from the estimation of fixed effect linear probability and conditional logit models show a positive and significant correlation of the share of women living in a local area (village, town or city) that has been visited by FP workers with the probability of women's employment. A multinomial analysis also shows that the largest positive effect of FP in rural India is to be found on paid work, as opposed to unpaid work, suggesting a potential empowering feedback of demographic measures through labour earnings.

Deliveries Among Adolescent Mothers in Rural Bangladesh: Who Provides Assistance?

This paper sought to identify factors associated with modes of delivery assistance among adolescent mothers in rural Bangladesh. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey of 2004 data for the last 5 years (N = 867) were used. Univariate statistical analysis and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed in analyzing the data. We observed that almost all adolescent deliveries (93.6 %) took place at home, and most (80.1%) were assisted by untrained traditional birth attendants, relatives or neighbours. Only 8.8% were attended by medically trained persons. Main factors affecting delivery practices among adolescents were mass media exposure, parents' education, antenatal care received, type of toilet facilities and visits by family planning workers (FPW), wanted last child and told about pregnancy complications. RESULTS indicate several policy options to improve outcomes for adolescent mothers: (a) create awareness of appropriate behaviours during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum period, (b) ensure maternal healthcare centres are available, especially rurally, for antenatal care, expand and improve the quality of home births by trained providers and introduce post-partum visits, (c) increase the number of visits by family welfare visitors/family welfare assistants (FWV/FWA), and (d) emphasize adolescent education to make a lasting impact on the overall health of adolescent mothers.

Women's Lives in Transition: A Qualitative Analysis of the Fertility Decline in Bangladesh

The fertility decline that began in Bangladesh in the late 1980s and continues has prompted diverse theories to explain it. In this qualitative analysis of 21 focus-group sessions with rural women ranging in age from the teens to late 40s and living in the villages of the Matlab area, the women's perceptions of their changing society and of the influence of the family planning program are examined. The women's statements reveal their awareness of the social and economic transition they are undergoing and their interest in family-size limitation, which is bolstered by a strong family planning program. Although the shifts in economic and social circumstances are not large, in conjunction with the strong family planning program they constitute a powerful force for change in attitudes, ideas, and behavior among these women.

Contraception among adolescents in Bangladesh

Data from the 1989 Bangladesh Fertility Survey were used to investigate the contraceptive behavior of married adolescents (age range: 10-19 years) in comparison with that of married adults. Marriage occurs at an early age in Bangladesh and is almost universal. Thus, adolescent fertility contributes substantially to overall fertility. The 11,906 women interviewed included 1922 (16.1%) adolescents. Knowledge of family planning (FP) was almost universal among both groups, with specific knowledge about methods slightly lower among adolescents. Ever use of a method was reported by 26.3% of the adolescents and 48.4% of the adults. The contraceptive prevalence rate was 15.3% among adolescents (10.7% modern and 4.6% traditional methods) and 34.4% for adults (10.5% female sterilization, 9.9% oral contraceptives, and 6.4% traditional methods). Little difference was found in the attitudes towards contraceptives of adults and adolescents. 83% of adolescents and 58% of adults indicated an intention to use a method in the future. When attitudes about family size were indecisive, contraceptive usage was very low. Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased education is the most important factor having a positive effect on the contraceptive use rate for adolescents, followed by participating in family decision-making, frequency of visits by FP workers, region of residence, husband's occupation, and availability of electricity in the household. The policy implication of these findings are that as women's status improves with increased opportunities for education and employment, they will find ways to meet their contraceptive needs. Also, the popularity of traditional methods could be exploited by program managers, since traditional methods can be effective if taught properly and used consistently. Adolescents need to become aware of the negative consequences of early marriage, early pregnancy, and large family size, they need information on the availability of FP methods and their use-effectiveness, they need improved reproductive health care services which are readily available, and they would benefit from programs designed to overcome the resistance of older family members and husbands to FP.

The Situation Analysis Study of the Family Planning Program in Kenya

A new, relatively "quick and clean" operations research approach called a "situation analysis" was developed for examining the strengths and weaknesses of the family planning program of Kenya. Field research teams visited a stratified random sample of 99 of the Ministry of Health's approximately 775 service delivery points. Observation techniques and interviewing were used to collect information on program components and on the quality of care provided to new family planning clients during the observation day. As late as 1986, the Kenya program was rated "weak" and "poor" in the international literature. The Kenya Situation Analysis Study found a functioning, integrated maternal and child health/family planning program serving large numbers of clients, with an emphasis on oral contraceptives and Depo-Provera (and an underemphasis on permanent methods). Although a number of program problems were revealed by the study, overall, in terms of performance, a rating of "moderate" is suggested as more appropriate for Kenya's national family planning program today. In terms of the quality of care, a "moderate to moderate-high" rating is suggested.

Reiteration of the Importance of Birth Planning in China

This document is the reproduction of a speech delivered at the March 1986 conference to commend collectives and individuals who have done outstanding work in family planning (FP) in China covened at a juncture when Chinas continued impressive reduction in population growth is threatened by a projected marriage boom beginning in the late 1980s. The speech affirms that FP is part of national policy and population planning an integral part of overall economic and environmental planning. Decrying coersive FP policies the speech commends the country on successfully overcoming the cyclical impact of the 1st birth peak in the 1950s. The pace must not be relaxed even now that there have been considerable advances in economic development; on the contrary continued technological advance will mean increased productivity of the labor force and a consequent threat of unemployment. Since China is a vast territory regions should be given some autonomy in determining local FP policy and methods. Policy should be different in rural and urban and in densely populated areas and sparsely populated areas where resources are abundant. Workstyles should be civilized. Scientific research work on fertility regulation should be strengthened. FP workers should be better trained in population theory to equip them to counter cultural tendencies towards large families and poor child care. Another problem to be addressed is that of genetic disorders caused in many cases by marriages between close relatives. There is concern about the overindulgence of single children. The remedy is to be found in education: parents should study a little pedagogy psychology and nutrition. FP should continue to be a policy priority of the entire country from the state ministries to party committees to citizen and youth groups.

An Overview of Family Planning in Korea (1961-1978)

Family planning in Korea during the last 2 decades is reviewed. In recognition of the fact that gains made in improving Koreas standard of living were being offset by concurrent gains in population growth the national government included family planning in its 1962-1966 5 year-plan. As a consequence prohibiting regulations were repealed domestic production of contraceptives was encouraged a family planning advisory committee was established and about $336000 was appropriated for 1962 to initiate the program. 366 family planning workers were trained in 1962 and 2 were assigned to each family planning clinic of the nations 183 county health centers. A nationwide information program was also carried out. The efforts of 2 university family planning research teams are described along with the activities of the Two Children Club the Korean Institute for Family Planning the Korean Association for Voluntary Sterilization and the In-Country Technical Assistance Mission for the Family Planning Program in Korea. The national demographic goal was to reduce the growth rate to 25 20 15 and 13/1000 by the end of each 5-year development planning period (1966 1971 1976 and 1981. To achieve such a goal targets for family planning practice rates were set. The government program was directed primarily at the rural population and poor urban population. In 1964 1473 female family planning workers were recruited and 1 was assigned to each township. Family planning workers issue coupons to those couples motivated to obtain free supplies at nearby clinics or health centers hospitals or designated private practitioners. By 1968 the cumulative total achievement of family planning services delivered by the national program were approximately 4350000 IUD insertions 2000000 couple years protection (CYP) by oral contraceptives (OCs) 250000 CYP by condom 850000 sterilizations and 100000 cases of menstrual regulation. The estimated number of births averted is about 2 million. Korea has spent about U.S. $100 million for the family planning program. According to the 1978 Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) survey 21% of eligible couples were currently practicing contraception on their own while 28% were using government services. The tremendous increase of sterilization in the last 2 years is another encouraging sign of improvement in the programs use-effectiveness. The programs strong points and problem areas are identified.