POSTPARTUM CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN BANGLADESH - UNDERSTANDING USERS PERSPECTIVES

Qualitative and quantitative data are used to explore postpartum contr aceptive use in two populations in Bangladesh. Findings from in-depth interviews with contraceptive users illustrate that women are primaril y concerned with their own and their newborn child's health and well-b eing in the period following childbirth. lit addition, women are aware of a diminished risk of pregnancy during the period of postpartum ame norrhea. These perceptions, plus a belief that modern methods of contr aception are ''strong'' and potentially damaging to health, mean that the majority of women are reluctant to adopt family planning methods s oon after birth, despite a desire to avoid closely spaced pregnancies. Supplementation of the child's diet is also shown to be an important factor determining the timing of postpartum contraceptive initiation. The findings suggest that current policies promoting contraception to women in the immediate postpartum period are inappropriate for many Ba ngladeshi women.