Differential effect of Wealth Quintile on Modern Contraceptive Use: Evidence from Malawi

Modern Contraceptives (MC) are useful for limiting fertility and protection against STIs including HIV/AIDS. MC are not easily accessible in most developing countries where high proportion of the people earns below 1$/day. This study examines the gap in MC use between women in the richest and poorest wealth quintile. It utilized Malawi Demographic and Health Survey dataset, 2010 and examined 5085 and 2290 married women aged 15-49 who met the inclusion criteria set for ever use of modern contraceptives (EUMC) and current use of modern contraceptives (CUMC), respectively. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for the analysis (α=5.0%). Mean CEB of the women in the poorest (3.94±2.7) was higher than their counterparts in the richest (2.82±2.3) wealth quintile (p<0.0001). About 76% of the women EUMC; with 66.8% and 82.4% EUMC in the poorest and richest wealth quintile respectively (p<0.0001). The prevalence of CUMC was 53.8% and was significantly higher among richest (58.5%) than the poorest (45.9%). Poorest married women were less likely 0.423(C.I=0.371-0.482) and 0.601(C.I=0.507-0.713) to EUMC and CUMC respectively than their counterparts in the richest wealth quintile. These odd ratios vaguely vary even when other potential confounding variables were used as control.