Contraceptive Use Before First Birth in North-East India: Trends and Socio-Demographic Inequalities Based on NFHS Data

Authors

  • Heisnam Ruhi Singh Department of Statistics, Manipur University, Imphal, India
  • Kshetrimayum Anand Singh Department of Statistics, Manipur University, Imphal, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.160420254842

Keywords:

Contraceptive use before first birth, logistic regression, NFHS

Abstract

Background: Taking part in human reproduction immediately after marriage will not be a good choice for those young couples from the point of view of population growth as well as the health of the mother and the newborn. As such, postponement of the first birth will benefit both the newborn's and the mother's health. The use of contraceptives before the first birth is a reasonable choice for delaying it. The objective of this paper is to analyse the trends in contraceptive use before first birth and to explore and identify potential socio-demographic covariates that significantly influence this trend in North-East India.

Methods: We analyse the trends of contraceptive use before first birth using data from the three latest National Family Health Surveys. We also investigate socio-demographic factors associated with contraceptive use before first birth using data from the latest round of NFHS-5. The method of multivariate logistic regression is applied to estimate the likelihood of contraceptive use before first birth among different socio-demographic groups.

Results: There is an increase in the percentage of women who use contraceptives before first birth from NFHS-3 to NFHS-4. However, there is a slight percentage decrease from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5. Place of residence, religion, family wealth, current age, and media exposure are some of the important covariates that significantly affect contraceptive use before first birth.

References

Olszynko-Gryn J. Contraceptive technologies. Twent Century Popul Think A Crit Read Prim Sources. 2015;(April):172-209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315707365-8

IIPS ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4):2015-16,India. Mumbai Int Inst Popul Sci. 2016;

IIPS ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5): 2019-21 India. Mumbai Int Inst Popul Sci. 2021;

NFHS 5. NFHS 5 report on child marriage. 2022;5(May):4-5.

Riley T. ADDING IT UP-Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health 2019. 2020;

Hammad AEB, Sayegh J, Turmen T, Shabanah MA, Mullholland, C A, Aguirre, I Y. Women's health : towards a better world, report of the First Meeting of the Global Commission on Women's Health [Internet]. 1994. p. 21-3. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/62706

Bruce J, Bongaarts J. The new population challenge. A Pivotal Moment Popul Justice Environ Chall. 2009;260:275.

Sowdamini T, SeethaLakshmi R. Sustainable Development and Curbing Gender Inequality Through Inclusion of Women in Policymaking. In: Gender Aspects of Climate Change and Sustainable Development: A Global Overview. Springer; 2024. p. 71-89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1192-5_6

Hall D. Promoting the health of children. Practitioner. 2001;245(1624):614-8.

United Nations. World Family Planning. United Nations Deparment of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. 2022. 43 p.

Jejeebhoy SJ, Santhya KG, Zavier AJF. Demand for Contraception to Delay First Pregnancy among Young Married Women in India. Stud Fam Plann. 2014;45(2):183-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4465.2014.00384.x PMid:24931075

Presler-Marshall E, Jones N. Empowering girls to prevent early pregnancy. Oversees Dev Inst. 2012;

Jina R, Thomas LS. Health consequences of sexual violence against women. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2013;27(1):15-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2012.08.012 PMid:22975432

Singh P, Singh KK, Singh A, Pandey A. The levels and trends of contraceptive use before first birth in India (2015-16): A cross-sectional analysis. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):14-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08917-w PMid:32448153 PMCid:PMC7247209

Pandey A, Singh KK. Contraceptive use before first pregnancy by women in India (2005-2006): Determinants and differentials Biostatistics and Methods. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2015;15(1):1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2652-y PMid:26714857 PMCid:PMC4696327

India C of. Provisional population totals. Regist Gen Census Comm India, New Delhi, Minist Home Aff Gov India. 2011;

IIPS Orcm. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), 2005-06: India. Vol I Mumbai Int Inst Popul Sci. 2007;

Xun P, He Q. Multivariate Analysis. Handbook Of Medical Statistics. 2017. 103-144 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9789813148963_0004

Hosmer Jr DW, Lemeshow S, Sturdivant RX. Applied logistic regression. John Wiley & Sons; 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118548387

Ahmed S, Li Q, Liu L, Tsui AO. Maternal deaths averted by contraceptive use: an analysis of 172 countries. Lancet. 2012;380(9837):111-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60478-4 PMid:22784531

Stover J, Ross J. How increased contraceptive use has reduced maternal mortality. Matern Child Health J. 2010;14(5):687-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-009-0505-y PMid:19644742

Kelly SL, Walsh T, Delport D, Ten Brink D, Martin-Hughes R, Homer CSE, et al. Health and economic benefits of achieving contraceptive and maternal health targets in Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and Caribbean. BMJ Glob Heal. 2023;8(2):1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010018 PMid:36750273 PMCid:PMC9906181

Bongaarts J, Sinding SW. A response to critics of family planning programs. Int Fam Plan Perspect. 2009;35(1):39-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1363/3503909

Singh S, Bankole A, Darroch JE. The Impact of Contraceptive Use and Abortion on Fertility in sub-Saharan Africa: Estimates for 2003-2014. Popul Dev Rev. 2017;43(Bongaarts 2008):141-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12027 PMid:29983458 PMCid:PMC6034699

Schoumaker B. Stalls in Fertility Transitions in sub-Saharan Africa: Revisiting the Evidence. Stud Fam Plann. 2019;50(3):257-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sifp.12098 PMid:31385318 PMCid:PMC6771655

Downloads

Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

1.
Singh HR, Singh KA. Contraceptive Use Before First Birth in North-East India: Trends and Socio-Demographic Inequalities Based on NFHS Data. Natl J Community Med [Internet]. 2025 Apr. 1 [cited 2025 Apr. 3];16(04):344-50. Available from: https://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/4842

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles