Contraceptive methods choice in Pakistan: determined or predetermined

Abstract

In Pakistan use of sterilization rises among older women, those in urban areas, and those with some education, and probability to use conventional female method is high among women with higher parity, younger in age, residents of rural and small towns, and those who watch TV at least once a week; and use of condoms rises prominently in women from major urban areas, with low parity and from middle age cohorts. In general, though current use and every use of contraception is influenced by socio-demographic and life style factors, the continuity and method selection is affected by either demographic or sociocultural factors. Disinformation about contraceptives in a general environment of illiteracy and ignorance plays a major detrimental role to keep potential users away from practicing fertility control. Whatever information a woman has is basically hearsay and word of mouth. Therefore, high knowledge about family planning and contraceptives in developing countries cannot be takien as "functional' to assist women in making contraceptive choices. There are comments by G.Y. Soomro on pp 798-800. -from Author