Association between Modern Contraceptive Use and Socio- Demographic Factors among Fecund Young Women in Bangladesh

Background: The growth and size of Bangladesh’s population over the next few decades will largely depend on the reproductive habits of young people because half of the population of the country is aged below 25 years. However, a systematic study on the contraceptive behaviour of this sub-group of population is less
evident. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring the determinants of using modern contraceptives among currently married fecund non-pregnant young women in Bangladesh.
Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional data (n=3,744) extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Differences in the use of modern contraceptives by sociodemographic characteristics were assessed by χ2 analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of modern contraceptive use among fecund young women.
Results: This study observed that six out of ten women used modern contraceptives. Getting FP methods from FP workers and husband-wife joint participation in decision making about healthcare issues and other familial activities increase the likelihood of using modern contraceptives. Regional variation is also another key
factor that influences contraceptive use.
Conclusions: Because husband-wife joint participation in decision making increases the likelihood of using contraceptives, government should focus on developing negotiation skills in young women by creating educational and employment opportunities. Reproductive and sex education should be introduced in schools to
prepare the young for healthy and responsible living.