The influence of husbands on contraceptive use by Bangladeshi women

This study uses the 1993-94 Bangladesh DHS to evaluate the effect of the woman's perception of her husband's approval of family planning on her current and future use of modern contraception, after controlling for selected socioeconomic and demographic factors. While most husbands support family planning, contraceptive use among those whose husbands do not approve of family planning is much lower. In some areas of Bangladesh, however, husband's disapproval of family planning is still a major deterrent factor for woman's fertility control. As husband's approval does appear to be a major determinant of contraceptive uptake in similar developing countries in the region, more effective male targeting may be necessary for maintaining the success of the family planning programme in future.