The multilevel dependence of contraceptive use on socioeconomic development and family planning program strength

Abstract

Using World Fertility Survey data for 15 developing countries, we estimate an equation in which the dependent variable-whether the respondent has ever used an efficient contraceptive method-depends on the respondent's education and location of childhood residence. All of the coefficients of this equation, including the intercept, vary over countries. Analysis based on new methodology shows that the intercept and education effects vary as a function of national family planning program efforts and that none of the parameters of the equation depend on gross national product per capita. The results demonstrate the efficacy of multilevel analysis, provide a partial test of the theory underlying the analysis, and refocus discussion of the contributions of development and policy variables to fertility reduction. © 1986 Population Association of America.