CONTEXT

The factors underlying contraceptive method choice are poorly understood in many countries, including Bangladesh. It is important to understand how Bangladeshi women’s perceptions of a method’s attributes are associated with their intention to use that method.

METHODS

Data on 2,605 married women aged 15–39 living in rural Matlab were taken from a baseline survey conducted in 2016. Conditional logit analysis was used to examine associations between 12 method attributes and intention to use the pill or the injectable among the 583 fecund women not currently using a method. Method attributes included those relating to ease of obtainment and use, efficacy, health effects, husband’s approval, the experiences of the respondent and the experiences of women in the respondent’s social network.

RESULTS

Women tended to perceive the pill more positively than the injectable. For example, greater proportions of women reported believing that the pill is easy to use (90% vs. 72%) and does not cause serious health problems (75% vs. 38%). The likelihood that a woman intended to use a method was positively associated with her perception that it is easy to use (odds ratio, 2.9) and does not cause serious health problems (1.7) or affect long-term fertility (2.9). Satisfied past users of a method were more likely than never users to report intending to use the method (5.2). Intention to use the pill rather than the injectable was positively associated with education (2.0–3.6) and having a migrant husband (1.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Negative beliefs not supported by evidence, particularly about the injectable, are associated with women’s intention to use a contraceptive method. The results may be useful in improving contraceptive care, counseling and training.