Migration Networks and Modern Contraceptive Knowledge and Use in Rural Guatemala

David Lindstrom, Brown University
Elisa Munoz-Franco, Brown University

This paper takes the concept of social networks as it is used in the contraception and migration literatures to explore the impact of out-migration on modern contraceptive knowledge and use in rural Guatemala. Results from regression models indicate that urban migration experience, and social ties to urban migrants at the family and community level are all associated with a greater likelihood of knowing one or more modern method. Social ties to international migrants have weaker effects on contraceptive knowledge, and are only significant at the family level. In the case of contraceptive use, the effects of more distant migrant ties (family outside the country or living in a community where urban migration is common) operate on contraceptive use primarily through the diffusion of information about different methods, whereas, the effects of closer migrant ties (family in urban areas of Guatemala) have a direct effect on the likelihood of contraceptive use.