Pattern of contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women with disabilities in Bangladesh: Evidence from multiple indicator cluster survey 2019

Abstract

Background

Contraception is crucial for reproductive-aged women with disabilities, empowering them to manage reproductive choices and enhancing overall health, autonomy, and well-being.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the usage patterns of contraceptive methods among reproductive-aged women with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Methods

We analyzed data from 47,465 reproductive-aged women from the 2019 Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Outcome variables included contraceptive usage patterns, grouped into any contraceptive methods, any modern contraceptive methods, and any traditional contraceptive methods. The primary explanatory variable considered was disabilities level (women with no disabilities, women with moderate disabilities, and women with severe disabilities), along with types of disabilities. A multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to assess associations between outcomes and explanatory variables while accounting for confounding.

Results

The prevalence of any contraceptive methods use was 66.4 %, declining to 54 % among women with severe disabilities. The odd of modern contraception use was 31 % lower (aOR, 0.69, 95 % CI, 0.65–0.73) among women with moderate disabilities and 47 % lower (aOR, 0.53, 95 % CI, 0.47–0.60) among those with severe disabilities, compared to women with no disabilities. Within the individual domains of disabilities, those with vision, walking, cognitive, and self-care-related disabilities reported lower odds of modern contraception uptake than those with no disabilities.

Conclusions

The study highlights that women with disabilities use contraceptives less often, increasing vulnerability to unintended and short interval pregnancies and unsafe abortion. Strengthening family planning and prioritizing women with disabilities for modern contraceptives are vital.