Attitude, keypersons’ support and uptake of modern contraceptives among reproductive age Myanmar migrant women in Thai-Myanmar border areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62992/wtv85y69Keywords:
Migrant, Modern contraceptives, MyanmarAbstract
Background: Easier access to contraception can help prevent negative health outcomes, such as unintended pregnancies and abortions, along with their associated adverse effects and socioeconomic consequences. However, there was limited information on contraceptive use among Myanmar migrant women along the Thai-Myanmar border.
Objectives: To identify the determinants of modern contraceptive uptakes among reproductive age Myanmar migrant women in Thai Myanmar border areas.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 440 Myanmar migrant women aged 15-49. Baseline characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and determinants of contraceptive uptake were identified through multiple logistic regression. Associations were presented as Crude Odds Ratio (COR) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). The statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05.
Results: Modern contraceptive uptake prevalence was 62.73% (95% CI: 58.09-67.14), with 48.19% using Depo-Provera injections. After controlling other covariates, getting high support from keypersons (AOR=13.58, 95% CI: 6.24-29.59) and good attitudes towards contraceptives (AOR=2.65, 95% CI: 1.54 -4.57) were associated with modern contraceptive uptakes. Moreover, the determinants of uptake of modern contraceptives included age 30-39 years (AOR = 4.59, 95% CI: 2.37-8.92), age 15 to 29 years (AOR=8.86, 95% CI: 4.55-17.25), farmers and unskilled workers (AOR=2.12, 95% CI: 1.22-3.69), and the opening hour of the clinic (AOR=2.65, 95% CI: 1.26-5.57)
Conclusion: Contraceptive uptake among Myanmar migrant women was higher than in both Thailand and Myanmar, influenced by factors such as keypersons’ support networks, attitudes, age, occupation, and accessible service hours. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen social networks that empower women’s decision and develop positive attitudes toward contraception. Additionally, providing culturally sensitive education, adopting context-specific strategies, fostering supportive workplace environments, and ensuring flexible, easily accessible healthcare services are all essential for improving contraceptive uptake among this population.
References
UNFPA. Seeing the Unseen: United Nations Population Fund 2022 [cited January 22 2023]. Available from: https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/resource/unfpa-state-world-population-2022.pdf.
WHO. Contraception: World Health Organization; 2023 [cited 2024 August 18]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/contraception#tab=tab_1.
WHO, Health JHBSoP. Family Planning:A Global Handbook for Providers (2022 update). Baltimore and Geneva: World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 2022.
UNFPA. Family Planning - Benefits and rights: United Nations Population Fund 2019 [cited 2023 January 22]. Available from: https://myanmar.unfpa.org/en/publications/family-planning-benefits-and-rights.
Alkema L, Kantorova V, Menozzi C, Biddlecom A. National, regional, and global rates and trends in contraceptive prevalence and unmet need for family planning between 1990 and 2015: a systematic and comprehensive analysis. The Lancet. 2013;381(9878):1642-52.
UNDESA. Family Planning and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division; 2019 [cited 2023 January 23]. Available from: https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/familyPlanning_DataBooklet_2019.pdf.
Nyunt HS. Considered neither refugees nor economic migrants, Burmese workers in Thailand eke out a living in the shadows 2023 [cited 2024 January 18]. Available from: https://www.equaltimes.org/considered-neither-refugees-nor?lang=en#.ZE5rg3ZBy5c.
Burma-News-International. Myanmar migrant workers face waves of challenges in Thailand: Burma-News-International; 2022 [cited 2023 January 22]. Available from: https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/myanmar-migrant-workers-face-waves-challenges-thailand.
Belton S, Whittaker AJSS, Medicine. Kathy Pan, sticks and pummelling: techniques used to induce abortion by Burmese women on the Thai border. Social Science & Medicine. 2007;65(7):1512-23.
Thein SS, Thepthien B-o. Unmet need for family planning among Myanmar migrant women in Bangkok, Thailand. British Journal of Midwifery. 2020;28(3):182-93.
Musa A, Assefa N, Weldegebreal F, Mitiku H, Teklemariam Z. Factor associated with experience of modern contraceptive use before pregnancy among women who gave birth in Kersa HDSS, Ethiopia. 2016;16:1-6.
Osmani AK, Reyer JA, Osmani AR, Hamajima N. Factors influencing contraceptive use among women in Afghanistan: secondary analysis of Afghanistan Health Survey 2012. BMC women's health. 2015;77(4):551.
Asiimwe JB, Ndugga P, Mushomi J, Manyenye Ntozi JP. Factors associated with modern contraceptive use among young and older women in Uganda; a comparative analysis. BMC public health. 2014;14(1):1-11.
Thakuri DS, KC Singh Y, Karkee R, Khatri RB. Knowledge and practices of modern contraceptives among religious minority (Muslim) women: A cross-sectional study from Southern Nepal. PLoS One. 2022;17(12):e0278899.
Mahande MJ, Shayo ea. Factors associated with modern contraceptives use among postpartum women in Bukombe district, Geita region, Tanzania. 2020;15(10):e0239903.
Gupta A, Roy TK, Sarker G, Banerjee B, Ghosh S, Pal R, care p. Determinants of contraceptive practices among eligible couples of urban slum in Bankura District, West Bengal. Journal of family medicine and primary care. 2014;3(4):388.
Thein SS, Thepthien B-o, Hong SA, editors. Factors influencing contraceptive use among Myanmar migrant women in Bangkok, Thailand: A community-based survey. Proceedings 6th Asian Academic Society International Conference (AASIC); 2018.
Gedeon J, Hsue SN, Walsh M, Sietstra C, MarSan H, Foster AM, health. Assessing the experiences of intra-uterine device users in a long-term conflict setting: a qualitative study on the Thailand-Burma border. Conflict and Health. 2015;9(1):1-7.
Najafi-Sharjabad F, Rahman HA, Hanafiah M, Yahya SZS, research m. Spousal communication on family planning and perceived social support for contraceptive practices in a sample of Malaysian women. 2014;19(7 Suppl1):S19.
Lwin MM, Munsawaengsub C, Nanthamongkokchai S. Factors influencing family planning practice among reproductive age married women in Hlaing township, Myanmar. 2013;96(suppl 5):S98-S106.
Abul Kalam Azad M, Zakaria M, Nachrin T, Chandra Das M, Cheng F, Xu J. Family planning knowledge, attitude and practice among Rohingya women living in refugee camps in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study. Reprod Health 2022;19(1):105.
Soe HHK, Somrongthong R. Utilization of Contraception among Myanmar Migrant Women in Phang-Nga Province, Thailand. Journal of Health Research. 2008;22(Suppl.):5-8.
Begum S, Chaurasia H, Moray KV, Joshi B. Predictors of Discontinuation of Modern Spacing Contraceptives in India. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 2021;33(1):121-5.
(IOM) IOfM. Overview of Myanmar Nationals in Thailand. 2024.
Soe TT. Prevalene of contraceptive use among reproductive age women in Kayin State, Myanmar [Master of Public Health ]. Khon Kaen University: Khon Kaen University; 2017.
Hsieh FY, Bloch DA, Larsen MD. A simple method of sample size calculation for linear and logistic regression. 1998;17(14):1623-34.
Bloom BS, Englehart MD, Furst EJ, Hill WH, Krathwohl DR. Taxonomy of educational objectives (Handbook I: Cognitive domain). 1956.
Soe HHK, Than NN, Kaul A, Kumar S, Somrongthong R, Sciences M. Determinants of contraceptive usage among Myanmar migrant women in Phang-Nga Province, Thailand. Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences. 2012;3(11):721-28.
Mboane R, Bhatta MP. Influence of a husband’s healthcare decision making role on a woman’s intention to use contraceptives among Mozambican women. 2015;12:1-8.
Ezeanolue EE, Iwelunmor J, Asaolu I, Obiefune MC, Ezeanolue CO, Osuji A, et al. Impact of male partner’s awareness and support for contraceptives on female intent to use contraceptives in southeast Nigeria. BMC public health. 2015;15:1-6.
Izale K, Fina J-PL, Govender I, Tumbo J, Medicine F. Factors that influence contraceptive use amongst women in Vanga health district, Democratic Republic of Congo. 2014;6(1):1-7.
Jirapongsuwan A, Latt KT, Siri S, Munsawaengsub C. Family planning practice among rural reproductive-age married women in Myanmar. 2016;28(4):303-12.
Aung KSM. Birth spacing practice among rural women of Hmawbi Township within one year postpartum. Yangon: University of Public Health; 2011.
Mon M-M, Liabsuetrakul T. Predictors of contraceptive use among married youths and their husbands in a rural area of Myanmar. 2012;24(1):151-60.
Dulla A, Kondale M, Kejela G. Client satisfaction with family planning services and associated factors in the rural public health centers of Kucha District, southern Ethiopia. Clin Mother Child Heal. 2019;16:1-9.
Tessema GA, Streak Gomersall J, Mahmood MA, Laurence CO. Factors determining quality of care in family planning services in Africa: a systematic review of mixed evidence. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0165627.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 the Author(s)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
International Journal of Public Health Asia Pacific (IJPHAP) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 international (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license, unless otherwise stated. Please read our Policies page for more information on Open Access, copyright, and permissions.


