Drivers of contraceptive use choice in Zambia

Modern approaches of birth control have emerged as broadly accepted family planning methods in replacement of traditional alternatives. However, the effectiveness of modern contraceptives has been challenged by serious side effects, either experienced or expected, with inhibiting consequences on the acceptability and utilisation of family planning service. This paper disentangles the drivers of none-use, traditional and modern contraceptive use in Zambia using the 2018 Zambian Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) data. The Conditional logit choice modelling technique is employed to account not only for the differences in alternative contraceptive options but also the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of individual woman making the choice. Empirical results indicate that educated, older and poorer women are likely to adopt the traditional contraceptive methods whereas employed women are indifferent between traditional and modern birth control options. Furthermore, Christian women and those from other religions as well as women with no education prefer no birth control method. The study concludes that employment has the potential to serve as an alternative and safer birth control tool in developing countries and namely in Zambia. Therefore, government's effort to expand family planning program should mainly target non-educated women while promoting safer contraceptive methods. This can be achieved through women education and job creation.