Contraceptive Intentions and Subsequent Use: Family Planning Program Effects in Morocco

Author(s): Magnani R J

Year: 1998

Abstract:
While the extent to which organized family planning programs influence reproductive preferences remains a subject of debate, most observers would grant that such programs play a key role in helping individuals to realize their contraceptive/reproductive intentions. However, few prior studies have quantified the magnitude of this ""facilitating"" or ""enabling"" effect of family planning services given demand for contraception. This study takes advantage of panel survey data and linked information on the supply environment for family planning services in Morocco to attempt to bridge this research gap. In the analysis, contraceptive use during the 1992-95 period is related to contraceptive intentions in 1992, individual-, household-, and community-level determinants of contraceptive behavior, and family planning supply factors. Estimation procedures are used that control for unobserved joint determinants of contraceptive intentions and use. While evidence of a significant enabling/facilitating role of family planning services is indeed found, the findings also suggest that family planning program factors influence contraceptive intentions in important ways.