Dynamics of contraceptive use among married women in North and South Yangon, Myanmar: findings from a cross-sectional household survey

Abstract

Objective

The objective was to explore the sociodemographic factors associated with contraceptive use, the variation in prevalence and duration of contraceptive use across the age groups and parity among 18–49-year-old married women in North and South Yangon.

Study design

We conducted a cross-sectional study regarding contraceptive use among married women aged 18–49 in North and South Yangon from September to November 2016. We used a questionnaire based on the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, with additional questions on the duration of contraception along the life-course. Associations between contraceptive prevalence and sociodemographic factors were tested by χ². We describe the percentages of contraceptive use and nonuse across the age and parity subgroups, and the mean duration of contraception. We compared the contraceptive prevalence ratios across the parity using logistic regression.

Results

The contraceptive prevalence of modern methods was 66% (95% confidence interval: 61.5%–69.9%) with better coverage in rural (69.6%) than in urban women (61.5%). Contraceptive use varied by age and parity, demonstrating lower prevalence in the oldest age group (45–49) and high parity (parity five and above). The mean duration of contraceptive use rose with increased age and parity, except in the oldest-age and high-parity groups.

Conclusions

The findings called for greater attention to improve the contraceptive coverage of married women living in urban areas around Yangon city (periurban women).

Implications

The study identified the pockets of low contraceptive coverage in a region with the highest contraceptive prevalence in Myanmar. Women above the age of 40 and women who had high parity had low contraceptive prevalence. Women living near the city showed lower contraceptive coverage compared to their rural counterparts.