Reversible or Irreversible: The Choice of Contraceptive Use among Married Women in Rural China

Haijiang Wang, Johns Hopkins University

This study of contraceptive method choice employs a structural equation model and analyzes data from the 1997 China Demographic and Reproductive Health Survey. The study examines the effects of individual and community characteristics on decisions to use reversible or irreversible contraceptives. A two-stage logit regression model reveals that women with a deficiency in attaining their desired fertility are more likely to use reversible methods over irreversible methods, women with higher education are significantly more likely to use reversible methods, and women’s contraceptive experience is significantly associated with the likelihood of reversible method use. Availability and quality of community family planning service is also significantly related to the decision for a reversible over irreversible method use. These findings shed light on the dynamics of the reversible /irreversible method use decision and on differences between sub-population groups in levels of reversible method use which have significant implications for fertility and health.