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Reproductive health care and family planning among women in Nepal
Author(s) -
Liu Marisa,
Nagarajan Neeraja,
Ranjit Anju,
Gupta Shailvi,
Shrestha Sunil,
Kushner Adam L.,
Nwomeh Benedict C.,
Groen Reinou S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.11.020
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , reproductive health , logistic regression , confidence interval , family planning , health care , population , demography , health facility , odds , cross sectional study , family medicine , obstetrics , gynecology , environmental health , health services , sociology , economics , research methodology , economic growth , pathology
Objective To describe findings from a validated survey examining access to care, contraceptive needs, access to surgical care, menstruation‐related healthcare needs, and barriers to receiving reproductive health care in Nepal. Methods An analysis was undertaken using data obtained through a two‐part population‐based, cross‐sectional, cluster‐randomized survey corroborated by a visual physical examination performed nationwide between May 25 and June 12, 2014. Women aged 12–50 years were included. The odds of delivering exclusively in a health facility, having a cesarean delivery, and using contraception were modeled using logistic regression. Results Overall, 876 female interviewees were of reproductive age (12–50 years). Only 237 (27.1%) women were using contraception. Maternal education was the strongest predictor of delivering exclusively in a healthcare facility (odds ratio [OR] 7.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.48–12.79; P < 0.001). The odds of having a cesarean delivery were doubled by urban living (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.09–4.13; P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, a predictor of using contraception was a history of having given birth (OR 9.61, 95% CI 4.62–20.01; P < 0.001). Conclusion In Nepal, reproductive healthcare disparities for women are manifold. Education for women appears to be a significant determinant of accessing reproductive health care.