Family planning awareness among never-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh
4 affiliations
- 1Maternal and Child Health Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh(icddr, b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 2Health Systems and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh(icddr, b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 3Department of Mathematical and Physical Science, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 4Independent Consultant, Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
Abstract
Background: This study aims to explore the national level prevalence of family planning (FP) awareness among never-married adolescent girls (NMAGs) in Bangladesh and perform a policy analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of existing FP programs and initiatives specifically designed to increase FP awareness among NMAGs in the country. Methods: We used data from the Bangladesh Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey (BAHWS) 2019–20, the first national-level cross-sectional survey conducted on adolescents aged 15–19 in Bangladesh. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify the correlates of FP awareness. The FP programs and initiatives taken since 2012 were assessed using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy analysis framework. Findings: Among NMAGs, roughly 25% were unaware of any modern FP method, 28% were unaware of oral contraceptive pills, 60% did not know about condoms, and 91% were unfamiliar with emergency contraceptive pills. Younger adolescents, those with lower levels of education, living in rural areas or Central and Eastern divisions, without access to mobile phones or the internet, with limited exposure to media, and not recently exposed to adolescent programs, were less likely to know about modern family planning methods. Using CDC analysis, we found that no intervention or strategies have been specifically developed to increase FP awareness among NMAGs in Bangladesh. Conclusion: FP awareness among NMAGs shows pronounced socio-demographic disparities. Findings underscore the need for coordinated government–development partner collaboration to design and implement tailored, adolescent-responsive interventions and strategies to improve FP awareness among NMAGs and safeguard their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
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BibTeX
@article{nusrat2026family,
title = {{Family planning awareness among never-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh}},
author = {Sumaiya Nusrat and Md Tazvir Amin and Md. Mahabubur Rahman and Mohammad Hridoy Patwary and MHM Imrul Kabir and Shusmita Hossain Khan and M. Moinuddin Haider},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0356778},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356778},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Family planning awareness among never-married adolescent girls in Bangladesh
AU - Sumaiya Nusrat
AU - Md Tazvir Amin
AU - Md. Mahabubur Rahman
AU - Mohammad Hridoy Patwary
AU - MHM Imrul Kabir
AU - Shusmita Hossain Khan
AU - M. Moinuddin Haider
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0356778
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356778
AB - Background: This study aims to explore the national level prevalence of family planning (FP) awareness among never-married adolescent girls (NMAGs) in Bangladesh and perform a policy analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of existing FP programs and initiatives specifically designed to increase FP awareness among NMAGs in the country. Methods: We used data from the Bangladesh Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey (BAHWS) 2019–20, the first national-level cross-sectional survey conducted on adolescents aged 15–19 in Bangladesh. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify the correlates of FP awareness. The FP programs and initiatives taken since 2012 were assessed using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policy analysis framework. Findings: Among NMAGs, roughly 25% were unaware of any modern FP method, 28% were unaware of oral contraceptive pills, 60% did not know about condoms, and 91% were unfamiliar with emergency contraceptive pills. Younger adolescents, those with lower levels of education, living in rural areas or Central and Eastern divisions, without access to mobile phones or the internet, with limited exposure to media, and not recently exposed to adolescent programs, were less likely to know about modern family planning methods. Using CDC analysis, we found that no intervention or strategies have been specifically developed to increase FP awareness among NMAGs in Bangladesh. Conclusion: FP awareness among NMAGs shows pronounced socio-demographic disparities. Findings underscore the need for coordinated government–development partner collaboration to design and implement tailored, adolescent-responsive interventions and strategies to improve FP awareness among NMAGs and safeguard their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -