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Worker-client exchanges and contraceptive use in rural Bangladesh
J F Phillips1, M B Hossain, R Simmons
1Research Division, Population Council, Bangladesh.
Studies in Family Planning
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Family planning worker visits in rural Bangladesh increase contraceptive use. Female workers are more effective, crystallizing existing demand and fostering new demand through ideational change.
Area of Science:
- Demography
- Public Health
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Contraceptive use is crucial for reproductive health and family planning.
- Understanding factors influencing contraceptive uptake in rural settings is essential.
- Household visits by family planning workers are a key intervention strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of family planning worker household visits on contraceptive use in rural Bangladesh.
- To differentiate the effects of male versus female worker outreach.
- To explore whether outreach crystallizes existing demand or generates new demand for contraception.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from a demographic survey in rural Bangladesh.
- Panel of women reinterviewed every 90 days for six rounds.
- Regression analysis controlling for underlying demand for contraception.
Main Results:
- Both male and female worker visits positively impact contraceptive use.
- Female worker outreach demonstrates a more pronounced effect.
- Evidence suggests outreach crystallizes latent demand and female outreach also generates new demand by fostering ideational change.
Conclusions:
- Household visits by family planning workers are effective in promoting contraceptive use.
- Targeted outreach by female workers may be particularly impactful in generating both existing and new demand.
- Findings support the role of outreach in both facilitating and stimulating family planning adoption.