Effect of Contraception Uptake on Pregnancy Outcomes among Young Women: Evidence from the Indian Demographic Health Surveys

Abhinav Mishra, C.S.R.D, S.S.S, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY
Monirujjaman Biswas, Jawaharlal Nehru University

This paper aimed to examine the effect of type of contraception uptake on pregnancy outcomes among young married women using the 2015-16 and 2019-21 National Family Health Survey data. The main outcome measure was pregnancy outcomes (live birth, abortion, miscarriage and stillbirth). Type of contraception uptake (no contraception, short-acting hormonal contraception, long-acting reversible contraception and permanent methods) was the key exposure variable. Multinomial logistic regression models were employed. Over the period, the prevalence of live birth declined by 5.74%, whereas the proportion of miscarriage, abortion and stillbirth increased by 4.87%, 0.79% and 0.06%, respectively. Results of multinomial models revealed that the association between type of contraception uptake and pregnancy outcomes were strongly significant, even after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic correlates. Besides, respondent’s age group, body mass index, parity, antenatal visits, place and mode of delivery, desire for more children, distance to a nearest health facility, education level, social group, wealth quintile place and region of residence were also significantly associated with pregnancy outcomes. Findings from this paper reinforced the need of the hour for implementing effective policies and multifaceted programmatic interventions towards ensuring access to effective contraception and enhancing the quality of family planning services that could help to achieve the best possible pregnancy outcomes among young women.

Keywords: Family Planning and Contraception, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Mortality and Longevity, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

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