Contraceptive usage among Myanmar migrant women of reproductive age in Phang-nga Province, Thailand

Abstract

This study is cross sectional study and was collected in Takuapa District and Kuraburi District in Phang Nga Province in February, 2008. 326 Myanmr migrant women of reproductive age were asked by using structured questionnaire. The study reported that the prevalence of contraceptive use was 73.3% and the most common contraceptive methods were injectables and oral pill. Regarding to the practicing contraception, majority of the married women discussed about family planning with their husbands/partners and more than half of them made the decision with their husbands/partners for using contraception. 76% of the respondents were in the age group of 20 to 39 years and 91.1% were married. Among married women, 51.8% have been married for 1-3 years and more than half of them had 1-3 children. 55.8% of the women had primary educational attainment and 54.6% were working outside while 45.4% were housewives. 42% of the women had family income 2001-4000 Baht per month and 51.8% stayed in Thailand 1-3 years although two third of the women were staying as unregistered migrant. Even though they had been staying in Thailand for years, more than half of them can communicate only basically. Most of the women heard of contraceptive methods and 50.9% had moderate level of knowledge and 75.5% of the respondents in this study had moderate level of attitude towards contraceptive methods and use. In terms of accessibility, 50.6% of the current users rely on the private clinic and drug stores, 84.1% went to the source by walking or public vehicles, 53.1% resided near the source for getting contraception and 84.5% said that it was convenience to go there. 83.7% perceived that they could afford the cost of contraceptive method they used and 90% satisfied the service they got. In bivariate analysis, the result of this study found that there is significance difference between age, marital status, marital duration, education, occupation, number of living children, knowledge towards contraceptive methods and use, perception on cost and current use of contraception. In multivariate analysis, age of the respondents, number of living children, knowledge towards contraception and perception on cost is significant after controlling other independent variables