Authors: Yoonjoung Choi, Annop Khanna, Linnea Zimmerman, Scott Radloff, Blake Zachary, & Danish Ahmad
Journal: Contraception, 99(2). February 2019
This article aims to understand levels and patterns of underreporting of female sterilization in a population with high sterilization rates. This study demonstrates, in a population with high sterilization, that sterilization as a current contraceptive method would be substantially underestimated using conventional survey questions.
The researchers analyzed data from the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (º£½Ç»»ÆÞ2020) survey conducted in Rajasthan, India, in early 2017. In addition to a conventional question used to ascertain current contraceptive use, the survey included a probing question; women who did not report sterilization as a current method were asked if they were ever sterilized. Women were defined as sterilization users based on either question. Researchers found:
- Among women who were ever sterilized, 78% reported currently using any contraceptive method(s), and 77% reported sterilization as the current method.
- Women in the lowest household wealth quintile or in general caste were less likely to report sterilization as a current method.
- Time since sterilization was not associated with correct reporting of sterilization.