Association between media exposure and family planning in Myanmar and Philippines: evidence from nationally representative survey data

Abstract

Background Although women in South Asia and South-east Asia have developed their knowledge regarding modern contraceptive and other family planning techniques, limited information exists on the influence of mass media exposure on the utilization of contraceptives and family planning. The current study examined the association between media exposure and family planning in Myanmar and Philippines. Methods The study analyzed data from the 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and 2015–16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). Three family planning indicators were considered in this study (i.e., contraceptive use, demand satisfied regarding family planning and unmet need for family planning). A binary logistic regression model was fitted to see the effect of media exposure on each family planning indicator in the presence of covariates such as age group, residence, education level, partner education level, socio-economic status, number of living children, age at first marriage, and working status. Results The prevalence of contraception use was 57.2% in the Philippines and 55.7% in Myanmar. The prevalence of demand satisfied regarding family planning was 70.5 and 67.1% in the Philippines and Myanmar respectively. Unmet need regarding family planning was 16.6% and 19.9% in the Philippines and Myanmar respectively. After adjusting for the covariates, the results showed that women who were exposed to media were more likely to use contraception in Philippines (aOR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.42–3.54) and Myanmar (aOR 1.39, 95% CI = 1.15–1.67). Media exposure also had a significant positive effect on demand satisfaction regarding family planning in the Philippines (aOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.42–3.37) and Myanmar (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.09–1.64). However, there was no significant association between media exposure and unmet need in both countries. Conclusions The study established a strong association between mass media exposure and the use and demand satisfaction for family planning among married and cohabiting women in Philippines and Myanmar. Using mass media exposure (e.g., local radio, television- electronic; newspapers) to increase both access and usage of contraceptives as well as other family planning methods in these countries could be pivotal towards the attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) of improving maternal health.

Exposure to family planning messages and contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional program impact evaluation study

“…Findings envisage that the average conceptive use among women of reproductive age who are exposed to FPM significantly increased as compared with those who are not exposed. This finding corroborates the findings that exposure to FPM enhances the use of CU among reproductive-age women 30 .…”

Individual and community level factors for modern contraceptives utilization among reproductive aged women in Amhara region, Mixed effect multi-level modeling, Data from Mini-EDHS, 2019

“…The final report of this study indicated that having mass media exposure to family planning messages had a significant association with contraceptive utilization. This is consistent with pooled reports in Sub Sahara African countries [ 45 ], and the Philippines [ 46 ]. This might be related to the mass media message about family planning having a significant effect on endorsing and validating negative attitudes about the lesser side effects, issues, and myths of contraceptive use.…”

Exposure to family planning messages and contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional program impact evaluation study

“…This nding corroborates the ndings that exposure to FPM enhances the use of CU among reproductive-age women. 30 Our study has provided empirical evidence to support the incessant calls for policymakers, external donor funding agencies, Civil Society and NGOs to prioritize and increase the resources for implementing family planning communication interventions in low-and middle-income countries. We proposed diverse country-speci c policies, programs, and interventions that incorporate the different dynamics of socio-political, cultural, and other contextual factors that hinder access to family planning messages and the use of contraceptives in SSA.…”