Association of mass media exposure on family planning attitudes and practices in Uganda

Author(s): Gupta N, Katende C, Bessinger R

Year: 2003

Abstract:
This paper examined the influences of multi-media Behavior Change Communication campaigns on women's and men's use of and intentions to use contraception in target areas of Uganda. Data were primarily drawn from the 1997 and 1999 Delivery of Improved Services for Health evaluation surveys, which collected information from representative samples of women and men of reproductive age in the districts served by the DISH project. Additional time-trend analyses relied on data from the 1995 Demographic and Health Survey. Logistic regressions were used to assess the associations between BCC exposure and family planning attitudes and practices, controlling for individuals' background characteristics. To minimize the biases of self-reported exposure, the analyses also considered cluster-level indices of the penetration of BCC messages in the community. Results indicated that exposure to BCC messages was associated with higher contraceptive intentions and use. While there was some evidence of bias of self-report, the pathways to behavior change appeared different for women and men.