Proportion Of Contraceptive Users Research Articles

Contraception within six-month postpartum in rural Vietnam: Implications on family planning and maternity services

Objectives This longitudinal study documents contraception practice and factors influencing contraception decision within the first six months postpartum, amongst women residing in the rural Northern Central region of Vietnam.Methods A sample of 463 rural women who gave birth during August-October 2002 were recruited and interviewed at one, 16 and 24 weeks postpartum.Results The proportion of contraceptive users at weeks 16 and 24 were 17% and 43% respectively. At week 24, of contraceptive users, 57% used IUD, 25% used condom, and 14% used traditional methods. Logistic regression analysis found age, sufficient knowledge on contraceptives and husband/partner opinion can significantly affect the contraception decision.Conclusions In order to improve the situation, health authorities should be encouraged to provide counselling on postpartum contraceptive methods during ante- and postnatal care visits. Health education on family planning and breastfeeding should also involve the husband/partner group taking into account local socio-cultural features.

The density of social networks and fertility decisions: evidence from South Nyanza district, Kenya.

Demographers have argued increasingly that social interaction is an important mechanism for understanding fertility behavior. Yet it is still quite uncertain whether social learning or social influence is the dominant mechanism through which social networks affect individuals' contraceptive decisions. In this paper we argue that these mechanisms can be distinguished by analyzing the density of the social network and its interaction with the proportion of contraceptive users among network partners. Our analyses indicate that social learning is most relevant with high market activity; in regions with only modest market activity, however, social influence is the dominant means by which social networks affect women's contraceptive use.

The Density of Social Networks and Fertility Decisions: Evidence from South Nyanza District, Kenya

Demographers have argued increasingly that social interaction is an important mechanism for understanding fertility behavior. Yet it is still quite uncertain whether social learning or social influence is the dominant mechanism through which social networks affect individuals’ contraceptive decisions. In this paper we argue that these mechanisms can be distinguished by analyzing the density of the social network and its interaction with the proportion of contraceptive users among network partners. Our analyses indicate that social learning is most relevant with high market activity; in regions with only modest market activity, however, social influence is the dominant means by which social networks affect women’s contraceptive use.

Contraceptive Use Among Postpartum Women: Recent Patterns and Programmatic Implications

This study of postpartum women based on Demographic and Health Surveys in 25 developing countries reveals that the proportion of women who are exposed to the risk of pregnancy within two years after childbirth ranges from one-third in Sub-Saharan Africa to nearly two-thirds in Latin America and the Caribbean. More that half of postpartum women are current contraceptive users. Women exposed to the risk of pregnancy are more likely than unexposed women to be using reversible methods usually the pill. Among women who are unexposed to the risk of pregnancy as a result of abstinence or amenorrhea associated with breast-feeding 19% are using a contraceptive method usually sterilization. The proportion of contraceptive users who initiate use of a modern method before menses returns ranges from 27% to 57% among countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia and from 24% to 46% among African countries. Smaller proportions of hormonal contraceptive users initiate use before the return of menses. About one-fifth of exposed women are not using any contraceptive method. Of this group more than one-third want no more children and another one-third want to space their next pregnancy. (authors)

Contraceptive Use and Fertility in Panama, 1984

Data from the 1984 Panama Maternal and Child Health/Family Planning Survey show a total fertility rate of 4.0 children per woman. Approximately 10% of womens last pregnancies were unwanted. Among currently married women 15-44 years of age 58% are practicing contraception. 13% of all women aged 15-44 are considered to be in need of family planning services: the greatest need exists among the Indian population women 20-34 and those living in rural areas. A comparison with the 1979 Contraceptive Prevalence Survey indicates that contraceptive use did not increase in Panama during the 5 years between the surveys. A larger proportion of contraceptive users in the most recent survey however were women protected by sterilization. (authors modified) (Summaries in ENG SPA FRE)