Why Gender Transformative Programs on Contraceptive Use Should Focus on Early and Middle Adolescents? A Mixed-Methods Study From Rural India

Tina Khanna , International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Gender-transformative programs on contraceptive use have mostly focussed around shifting inequitable gender norms of older adolescents. This abstract explores inter-connection between contraceptive use and age and gender norms among middle and late married adolescents. Logistic Regression and deductive content analysis was used. The use of contraceptives increased with every year of increase in age (OR=1.5, p<0.001). The likelihood (OR=4.11, p<0.001) of using contraceptive was significantly determined by perception that women have right to use contraceptives. Interaction analyses revealed that older adolescents combined with higher perception of gender equality were more likely to use contraceptives than younger adolescents with low perception of gender equality (OR= 1.05, p<0.001). Family planning programs should initiate much early to target adolescents (especially boys) to address gender inequitable attitudes, promote couple communication and partner support for contraceptive use. Equally critical is to build communication skills of girls so that they are able to demand contraceptive use.

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 Presented in Session 2. Children & Youth