Association between contraceptive use and socio-demographic factors of young fecund women in Bangladesh.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between socio-demographic factors and contraceptive use among fecund women under 25years old.

Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional data (n=3744) extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Differences in the use of contraceptives by socio-demographic characteristics were assessed by χ analyses. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of contraceptive use among young women.

Results: This study observed that 71% fecund women aged below 25years used contraceptives. Getting family planning (FP) methods from FP workers increases the likelihood of using contraceptives among young women because outreach activities by FP workers and accessibility of FP related information pave the way of using contraceptives. Husband-wife joint participation in decision making on health care increases the likelihood of using contraceptives. Participation of women in decision making on health care could be achieved by promoting higher education and gainful employment for women.

Conclusions: Reproductive and sex education should be introduced in schools to prepare the young for healthy and responsible living. Moreover, policy makers should focus on developing negotiation skills in young women by creating educational and employment opportunities since husband-wife joint participation in decision making increases contraceptive use.