The impact of the family planning supply environment on contraceptive intentions and use in Morocco

Although the extent to which organized family planning programs influence r eproductive preferences remains a subject of debate, most observers would g rant that such programs play a key role in helping individuals to realize t heir contraceptive and reproductive intentions. However, fao prior studies have quantified the magnitude of this facilitating or enabling effect of fa mily planning services, given existing demand for contraception. This study takes advantage of panel survey data and linked information on the supply environment for family planning services in Morocco in order to bridge this research gap. In the analysis, contraceptive use during the 1992-95 period is related to contraceptive intentions in 1992; individual-, household-, a nd community-level determinants of contraceptive behavior; and family plann ing supply factors. Estimation procedures are used that control for unobser ved joint determinants of contraceptive intentions and use. Evidence of a s ignificant enabling or facilitating role of family planning services is fou nd, and the results also suggest that family planning program factors influ ence contraceptive intentions in important ways.