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

In terms of specific family planning methods, the dominant change in Bangladesh since the late 1980shas been a large increase in the number of couples using the pill. The proportion of married women relyingon the pill almost doubled in the last four years, from 9 percent in 1989 to 17 percent in 1993-94 (see Figure4.2). Use of injection, condoms, and the IUD have also increased slightly since 1989, while use of femaleand male sterilization has declined slightly. Use of periodic abstinence and of withdrawal have increasedslightly since 1991.Figure 4.2Trends in Modern Contraceptive Use amongCurrently Married Women 10-49, fromSelected Sources, Bangladesh, 1975 to 1993-942OPercent Using Method10• :g •1975 1983 1 g85 1989 1991 1993-94YearThe 1993-94 BDHS data indicate that a majority of modem method users are using reversible methodsas opposed to permanent methods. The shift towards modem reversible methods is largely due to asignificant increase in use of the pill from 1985 to 1993, as well as to the decline in popularity of female andmale sterilization.Differentials in Current Use of Family PlanningBDHS data indicate that some women are much more likely to be using contraception than others (seeTable 4.8 and Figure 4.3). The level of current contraceptive use is higher in urban areas (54 percent) thanin rural areas (43 percent). The pill is the most popular method among both urban and rural women. Thecondom is the next most widely used method among urban couples, while female sterilization is the secondmost popular method for rural women. There is a sharp difference in condom use between urban (8 percent)and rural (2 percent) couples. This may be due to the fact that female field workers, who provide a substantialpart of family planning services in rural areas, are shy about discussing condoms with men. Appropriatemotivational strategies need to be developed to involve men in taking an active part in the adoption of familyplanning methods.46