Factors associated with knowledge and use of the emergency contraceptive pill among ever-married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh: findings from a nationwide cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Objectives

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with knowledge and use of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) among ever-married women in Bangladesh.

Methods

The study was based on a secondary dataset of the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Complete (weighted) data of 17,592 women aged 15–49 years were analysed.

Results

The prevalence of having knowledge and use of the ECP among ever-married women in Bangladesh was 13.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Administrative region and type of residence (urban or rural), household wealth index, educational level (of both the woman and her spouse), spouse’s occupation, number of living children, weight, current use of contraception and a history of pregnancy termination were positively associated with knowledge and use of the ECP.

Conclusion

A large proportion of Bangladeshi women of reproductive age had a lack of knowledge and use of the ECP. Nationwide reproductive health education programmes may improve the situation.

Chinese abstract

目的：本研究旨在评估孟加拉国已婚妇女紧急避孕药(ECP)的知晓和使用情况及其相关因素。

方法：本研究基于2014年孟加拉国人口与健康调查的二级数据集。对17592名年龄在15-49岁的女性的完整(加权)数据进行了分析。

结果：孟加拉国已婚妇女对ECP的知晓率和使用率分别为13.6%和1.8%。行政区和居住类型(城市或农村)、家庭财富指数、教育水平(妇女及其配偶)、配偶职业、在世子女数、体重、目前使用避孕措施和终止妊娠史与ECP的知晓和使用呈正相关。

结论：很大比例的孟加拉国育龄妇女缺乏对ECP的认识和使用。全国性的生殖健康教育计划可能会改善这种情况。

Keywords:

• Abortion
• Bangladesh
• emergency contraception
• reproductive health

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to acknowledge the authority of the National Institute of Population Research and Training, Bangladesh, for providing the dataset used in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.