Underreporting of Contraceptive Use in Bangladesh

The results of a Condom User Survey conducted in Bangladesh in 1983 indicate that married men report a higher level of use of almost all contraceptive methods than do married women. The responses of urban residents varied only slightly by sex but in less urbanized areas the differences were considerable. In addition semirural respondents whose spouses were interviewed separately but simultaneously were more likely than respondents whose spouses were not interviewed to say that they used a contraceptive method. Interviewing couples did not produce 100% agreement on contraceptive use however. Although 74% of use reported by urban couples was reported by both partners the proportion was 44% among semirural couples. The researchers believe that a reasonably accurate measure of prevalence can be obtained by interviewing couples and classifying them as users if either spouse reports that they use a method within marriage. Using this couple approach it was discovered that 11% of husbands underreported use as did 44% of their wives. The researchers conclude that underreporting of contraceptive use particularly by women in semirural areas accounts for much of what has come to be known as the condom gap in Bangladesh. (authors)