The correlates of natural method use in Moldova: is natural method use associated with poverty and isolation, and can it be reduced by family planning programmes?

Mark J Lyons-Amos, University of Southampton
Gabriele Durrant, University of Southampton
Sabu S. Padmadas, University of Southampton

The Republic of Moldova demonstrates the highest reliance on natural contraceptive methods in Europe. This study investigates method use correlates in Moldova to explain this high natural method use. The study tests hypotheses that current natural method use is increased by economic disadvantage, but FP media exposure decreases the probability of natural method use. The study controls for fertility preferences and coital activity. The analysis uses 5860 ever sexually active women from the 2005 Moldova DHS. A multilevel, multinomial regression is used to analyse significant influences and control for geographical clustering. Economic disadvantage is associated with increased natural method use although the effect is small. High exposure to FP media decreases natural method use, but the effect declines with age. This study recommends that FP effort directed toward the poorest may have limited impact, but focussing existing FP media on older women could reduce levels of unwanted births and abortion.