Bangladesh 1993-1994 Demographic and Health ... - Measure DHS

CHAPTER 4FERTILITY REGULATION4.1 Knowledge of Contraception and SourcesRespondents' knowledge of contraceptive methods was assessed in the BDHS through a series ofquestions combining spontaneous recall and prompting procedures. The ability to name or recognize thename of a family planning method is a nominal test of a respondent's knowledge and not a measure of howmuch she may know about the method. However, knowledge of specific methods and of places where theycan be obtained is a precondition for their use.Respondents were first askedto name the ways or methods bywhich a couple could delay or avoidpregnancy. Interviewers then askedabout specific methods not mentionedspontaneously by the respondent.Information was sought aboutsix modem methods---the pill, IUD,injection, condom, female and malesterilization, as well as two traditionalmethods---periodic abstinence(safe period or rhythm method) andwithdrawal. Other methods mentionedby the respondent, such asherbs or breastfeeding, were also recorded.For each method recognized,the respondent was asked if sheknew of a source or a person fromwhom she could obtain the method.Knowledge of contraceptivemethods and supply sources hasbeen almost universal in Bangladeshfor many years and the BDHS resultsconfirm this fact. For example, resuitsindicate that just slightly lessthan 100 percent of both ever-marfledand currently married womenage 10-49 know at least one methodof family planning (Table 4.1).Table 4.1 Knowledge of contraceptive methods and source for methodsPercentage of ever-married women and currently married women age 10-49who know specific contraceptive methods and who know a source (forinformation or services), by specific methods, Bangladesh 1993-94Know methodKnow a source IEver- Cun'ently Ever- CurrentlyContraceptive married married married marriedmethod women women women womenAny method 99.7 99.8 98.0 98.2Any modern method 99.7 99.8 97.8 98.0Pill 99.5 99.5 95.6 96.0IUD 89.4 90.0 78.7 79.4Injection 96.3 96.6 88.8 89.3Condom 86.6 87.4 78.5 79.4Female sterilization 98.8 99.0 92.6 92.9Male sterilization 82.9 83.1 75.1 75.4Any traditional method 75.0 76.1 42.9 43.7Periodic abstinence 64.0 65.0 42.9 43.7Withdrawal 49.0 50.0 NA NAOther traditional methods 17.0 17.4 NA NANumberofwomen 9640 8980 9640 8980NA = Not applicable~For modern methods, source refers to a place where the method orprocedure can be obtained. For rhythm and natural family planning, sourcerefers to a place or person from whom advice can be obtained on practicingthese methods.A greater proportion of currently married women (100 percent) reported knowing a modem methodthan a traditional method (76 percent). This may be due in part to the fact that traditional methods are notincluded in the organized family planning efforts. In addition, learning of these methods through informalchannels is not easy in a society such as Bangladesh where matters relating to sex are not freely discussed.Knowledge of the pill (100 percent), female sterilization (99 percent), and injection (97 percent) is almostuniversal, while more than 4 out of 5 married women know the IUD (90 percent), condom (87 percent) and39