Analysis of motivation to contraceptive use applying the weighting procedure

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for scaling contraceptive use motivation for the sample population of the Family Planning Health Services Project in Matlab. The project, which began in 1977, is conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. The hypothesis of the research is that through the use of a scaling algorithm the power of demographic characteristics, attitudes, and intentions for predicting contraceptive use can be enhanced. The analysis shows that two factors explain use motivation. Scale 1 is weighted for demographic variables and desire for additional children, while Scale 2 is comprised of education and intentions of contraceptive use. Both scales have a pronounced independent predictive power. We conclude that scaling has improved upon the predictive power of indicators of reproductive motivations. PIP:

A technique for scaling contraceptive use motivation for the Family Planning Health Services Project (FPHSP) in Matlab, Bangladesh, is presented. The project started in 1977. Independent variables are hypothesized predisposing characteristics of users; the dependent variable is contraceptive usage. Factor analysis is applied. "Factor analysis of contraceptive use motivation with loadings for unrotated and varimax rotated matrices" is given. Items of information in the questionnaire included sociodemographics, knowledge and use of contraception, desire for more children, and intent of contraceptive usage in the future. 2111 respondents of 3 different surveys make up the analysis sample. Scale 1 is weighted for demographic variables and desire for more children. Scale 2 is made up of education and intentions of usage. Motivation to use contraception is seen as a proximate determinant of use. Motivation is affected by norms, attitudes, and beliefs. Demographic characteristics directly affect motivation and attitudes. Background variables also directly affect motivation. Varimax matrix rotation improves the precision of loadings. Scaling has improved the predictive power of indicators of reproductive motivation. Motivation to use contraceptives is multidimensional--it should not be measured by intentions alone. Attitude is also multidimensional with family size desires and demographics. Intentions and husband's education seem to reflect a separate factor--a "reproductive planning dimension." Husband's education is related to intention and use.author's modified