The Effect of Access to Contraceptive Services on Injectable Use and Demand for Family Planning in Malawi

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Citation

Skiles, Martha Priedeman; Cunningham, Marc; Inglis, Andrew; Wilkes, Becky; Hatch, Ben; Bock, Ariella; & Barden-O'Fallon, Janine L. (2015). The Effect of Access to Contraceptive Services on Injectable Use and Demand for Family Planning in Malawi. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 41(1), 20-30. PMCID: PMC4863240

Abstract

CONTEXT: Previous studies have identified positive relationships between geographic proximity to family planning services and contraceptive use, but have not accounted for the effect of contraceptive supply reliability or the diminishing influence of facility access with increasing distance.
METHODS: Kernel density estimation was used to geographically link Malawi women’s use of injectable contraceptives and demand for birth spacing or limiting, as drawn from the 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, with contraceptive logistics data from family planning service delivery points. Linear probability models were run to identify associations between access to injectable services—measured by distance alone and by distance combined with supply reliability—and injectable use and family planning demand among rural and urban populations.
RESULTS: Access to services was an important predictor of injectable use. The probability of injectable use among rural women with the most access by both measures was 7‒8 percentage points higher than among rural dwellers with the least access. The probability of wanting to space or limit births among urban women who had access to the most reliable supplies was 18 percentage points higher than among their counterparts with the least access.
CONCLUSIONS: Product availability in the local service environment plays a critical role in women’s demand for and use of contraceptive methods. Use of kernel density estimation in creating facility service environments provides a refined approach to linking women with services and accounts for both distance to facilities and supply reliability. Urban and rural differences should be considered when seeking to improve contraceptive access.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1363/4102015

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2015

Journal Title

International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Author(s)

Skiles, Martha Priedeman
Cunningham, Marc
Inglis, Andrew
Wilkes, Becky
Hatch, Ben
Bock, Ariella
Barden-O'Fallon, Janine L.

PMCID

PMC4863240

ORCiD

Skiles - 0000-0002-0433-4038
Wilkes - 0000-0002-1298-6546
Barden-O'Fallon - 0000-0001-6410-7200