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Background Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.7 concerns modern contraception use among women of reproductive ages. This study evaluated the progress of indicator 3.7.1 in 11 selected countries in South and South-East Asia and assessed the contribution of women's education to modern contraceptive use. Methods Generalized linear models for complex surveys were fitted to Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 40 surveys conducted in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Timor Leste between 1990 and 2017, followed by a meta-analysis through forest plots. Results Modern contraceptive coverage in most of the selected countries climbed or remained stationary over the past decades. In four countries, <50% of women used contraception. In no country was contraception used by ≥80% women. Higher education was associated with 13% higher odds of modern contraceptive use (95% confidence interval: 1.07, 1.18) among women compared to primary level or no education. Discussion Completion of primary education is insufficient to broaden the coverage of modern contraceptive use. Greater national level effort from the selected countries is needed to lift the education levels of women to meet SDG 3.7 by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is now closer than ever. There is lack of sufficient progress in achieving the MDG targets in many low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, there has also been concerns about wide spread inequity among those that are on track to achieve the health-related MDGs. Bangladesh has made a notable progress towards achieving the MDG 5 targets. It is, however, important to assess if this is an inclusive and equitable progress, as inequitable progress may not lead to sustainable health outcomes. The objective of this study is to assess the magnitude of inequities in reproductive and maternal health services in Bangladesh and propose relevant recommendations for decision making. Methods: The 2007 Bangladesh demographic and health survey data is analyzed for inequities in selected maternal and reproductive health interventions using the slope and relative indices of inequality. Results: The analysis indicates that there are significant wealth-related inequalities favouring the wealthiest of society in many of the indicators considered. Antenatal care (at least 4 visits), antenatal care by trained providers such as doctors and nurses, content of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, delivery in health facility and delivery by caesarean section all manifest inequities against the least wealthy. There are no wealth-related inequalities in the use of modern contraception. In contrast, less desired interventions such as delivery by untrained providers and home delivery show wealth-related inequalities in favour of the poor. Conclusions: For an inclusive and sustainable improvement in maternal and reproductive health outcomes and achievement of MDG 5 targets, it essential to address inequities in maternal and reproductive health interventions. Under the government's stewardship, all stakeholders should accord priority to tackling wealth-related inequalities in maternal and reproductive health services by implementing equity-promoting measures both within and outside the health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have extended Bulatao’s conceptual framework for selecting the determinants of method choice. Attempts have been made to capture Bulatao’s dimensions directly rather than through proxies. The results of logistic regression analysis using the 1996–97 BDHS indicate that as the number of living children increases, women prefer non-terminal efficient methods such as the pill and injectable/IUD/implant and depend less on inefficient methods such as condom and permanent methods such as sterilization. With an increase in marital duration and age, women increasingly prefer sterilization as compared with other modern methods. The results may indicate a strong preference for male children among those in the sample, as women increasingly use permanent methods to prevent pregnancy as the number of living male children increases. Condom use increases with education of both women and their husbands, compared with other modern methods, indicating that more educated couples possibly have the greater understanding necessary to use the method. The better educated are significantly less likely to use sterilization. The two indicators of contraceptive evaluation, side effect and convenience of current modern method, are very important considerations in selecting the pill, injectable/IUD/implant, and condom over other modern methods. On the basis of convenience, women are most likely to use the pill over other modern methods, while they are least likely to use sterilization. Condom is the most preferred method on the basis of side effect. On the other hand, sterilization is the least preferred of other modern methods for the same reason. Sterilization is significantly less common among the Muslims, which is likely due to religious reasons, while condom use is significantly less common among non-Muslims. The two indicators of contraceptive access, accessibility/availability of current modern method and cost of current modern method, are very important considerations in pill use, while sterilization is less preferred over other modern methods on the basis of both accessibility/availability and cost. The programmatic factor visit of family planning workers/FWAs significantly increases the likelihood of using the pill compared to other modern methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]