Contraceptive Practice of Married Women: Experience from a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Abstract

Of the world population, 75% live in developing countries characterized by high fertility rates, high maternal and infant mortality and low life expectancy 2 . In the developing world, 1/3rd of all healthy adult women are lost due to reproductive health problem 3. Female population is about 60.26 million in Bangladesh and married women of reproductive age group constitute 51.7% of all total female population4. More than 5,00,000 women die every year due to pregnancy related complications in the developing world 5 . Although the average age at marriage is 18 years for females and 27 years

What Influences Adolescent Girls’ Decision-Making Regarding Contraceptive Methods Use and Childbearing? A Qualitative Exploratory Study in Rangpur District, Bangladesh

“…In line with the results of previous studies conducted in Bangladesh and its neighbouring country Nepal, this study showed that a lack of communication and negotiation ability with the husband negatively affects informed decision-making on contraceptive use and childbearing [ 7 , 33 , 34 ]. Because of the age and power differentials between wives and husbands, often a newly married adolescent girl hesitates or refrains from talking to her husband about contraceptive methods which limits inter-spousal communication.…”

“…A study conducted in Bangladesh found that the husband played an important role in making decisions regarding contraceptive use and childbearing which also supports the findings of this study [ 24 ]. Another study also showed the influence that mothers-in-law have on contraceptive use and childbearing in the decision-making process [ 32 , 33 ]. Two aspects made husbands and mothers-in-law influential in this process.…”

“…This study found that adolescent girls often received incorrect or misleading information from neighbours and sisters-in-law which led to mistrust about the use of contraceptive methods. Mistrust and misleading information also scared women and influenced them not to use contraceptive methods before having the first child [ 33 ].…”