Asia-Pacific Population Journal - Volume 6, Issue 3, 1991

The dramatic changes in fertility that occurred in China during the past few decades are well known. The 1982 One-per-Thousand Fertility Sampling Survey of China reveals that the total fertility rate fell from 5.81 at the beginning of 1950 to 2.63 in 1981.

Recent studies have emphasized the policy and programmatic importance of understanding the choice of contraceptive method use and the factors affecting contraceptive choice (Bulatao, Palmore and Ward, 1989; Tsuiand Herbertson, 1989). The purpose of this article is to analyze the sociocultural and demographic determinants of contraceptive method choice in Sri Lanka. The study is an update of a previous study on this topic by Kahn, Thapa and Gaminiratne (1989). The previous study analyzed the determinants of contraceptive choice at two time periods, 1975 and 1982. It considered four current contraceptive choices: no use, use of a traditional method, use of a modern temporary method and use of sterilization. The analysis showed that, both in 1975 and 1982, socio-demographic factors had a strong influence on whether any method was used. However, in both the time periods, the type of method chosen was primarily a function of demographic factors related to the couple’s family-building stages rather than socio-economic factors, implying that in Sri Lanka there are few socioeconomic barriers to accessibility and choice of contraceptive methods.

Even though India instituted the first national family planning programme in the world, its contraceptive prevalence rate is still relatively low. In 1980, a national survey estimated that 35 per cent of the currently married women aged 15-44 years were currently using contraceptives, of whom 63 per cent were using sterilization (Khan and Prasad, 1983, pp. 112, 120). As late as 1984-1985, close to the time our study was carried out, oflicial government estimates based on service statistics still showed only 36 per cent of the eligible couples as being currently protected (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 1986, p. 14); of these, 70 per cent were using sterilization (Ibid., p. 187).