The Influence of Attitudes toward Contraception on the Adoption of Permanent Methods to End Childbearing

Keith D. Robinson, University of Michigan

This study uses a micro level perspective to assess how attitudes towards contraception affect the use of permanent methods to end childbearing. My primary goal is to test the hypothesis that attitudes toward contraception affect the subsequent adoption of a permanent method. I divide attitudes into four sub-categories engendering separate hypotheses for each. The categories are: (1) attitude in general (2) attitude toward side effects (3) attitude toward accessibility (4) attitude toward effectiveness. Next, through the inclusion of desired family size as an intervening variable that could affect both attitudes toward contraception and the adoption of a permanent method, I examine whether or not the effect of attitudes on behavior operates through family size preference or functions independently. This study uses panel data which capture individual attitudes at time 1, and behavioral outcomes at time 2, thereby eliminating problems of time order.