EXAMINING THE INCREASING PREVALENCE OF TRADITIONAL CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS IN HONDURAS

The use of traditional methods has risen sharply in Honduras, from 19% of all contraceptive use in 1987 to 26% of prevalence in 1991-1992. A multivariate analysis of data from two national probability sample su rveys shows that contraceptive users interviewed in 1991-1992 were sig nificantly more likely to use rhythm than were those interviewed in 19 87; reliance on withdrawal was not significantly different between sur vey years. The following factors all significantly raised the probabil ity that a woman would select rhythm over modern methods - being 40-44 years old, having 0-2 living children, being legally married, living in a rural area, needing to travel more than one hour to a health faci lity wanting more children and recently hearing a family planning mess age over the radio. Those factors that significantly predicted the cho ice of withdrawal over modern methods included four of the same variab les - marriage, residence, travel time and 0-2 living children - plus being younger than 25, having fewer years of education and having eigh t or more children.