Bangladesh (2013): FoQus on understanding pregnancy, family planning, and birth spacing decisions among women of reproductive age in the Chittagong, Sylhet, and Barisal Divisions of Bangladesh. Round 1.

Unplanned pregnancies are common in Bangladesh. BDHS 2011 shows that in the five years preceding the survey, 15% of births were mistimed, and 13% were unwanted. Moreover, BDHS 2011 shows that 13% of currently married women of reproductive age in Bangladesh have an unmet need for family planning services. Therefore, the goal of the study is to understand decisions about healthy pregnancy, family planning, and birth spacing among married women of reproductive age. The objectives of the study are to understand how women make decisions about family planning and birth spacing, and to understand the barriers and facilitators to use of family planning by adolescents. The information will be used to develop program messages and communication strategies for the MIH program focused on the healthy timing of pregnancy and birth spacing. The information will be used to develop program messages and communication strategies for the USAID Marketing Innovations for HEalth (MIH) program.