An approach to understanding change in contraceptive behaviour in India.

This study utilizes data from National Family Health Survey 1992-93 & 1998-99 and explores factors that may explain increase in contraceptive use during six year time period. A regression decomposition procedure shows that increase in propensity among illiterate women and women who have health facility within village contribute significantly in increasing the prevalence of contraceptive use regardless of change in composition of population. The analysis clearly suggests that foremost component of increase in contraceptive use is due to change in propensity which explains around 54 percent of total change. Around 42 percent of overall increase is being explained by change in composition. As evident from simulation results media exposure among educated women contributes more towards contraceptive adoption than among illiterate women.