Trends and Differentials in Knowledge, Ever Use, Current Use, and Future Intended Use of Contraceptives in Rural Bangladesh: Evidence from Three Surveys

The study examines the trends and differentials in knowledge, ever .use, current use, and future intended use of contraceptives in rural Bangladesh. Using data from three national-level surveys between 1968 and 1977, the study finds that there had been an increase in contraceptive knowledge, ever use, current use, and future intended use over the years. Although estimated logit regression models indicated that more educated women and women having higher parity were significantly more likely to adopt or to intend to adopt contraceptives in the future, other socio-economic indicators such as regional development or non-agricultural occupations did not lead to higher contraceptive use or future intended use of contraceptives. Somewhat similar levels of differences in ever, current, and future intended use of contraceptives among socio-economic groups persisted over the years. Implications of these findings are discussed in the paper.