Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Use Among Currently Married Women in the Philippines

• In Event: 50260 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 9: Reproductive Norms, Practices, and Politics in Contemporary Asia

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of modern contraceptive use among currently married women in the Philippines, focusing on the impact of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012. Using nationally representative data from the 2008 and 2022 Philippines Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), the analysis employs logistic regression models to examine the role of socioeconomic factors, policy interactions, and nonlinear relationships. Key findings indicate that the RPRH Law significantly increased modern contraceptive use overall, with stronger effects observed in rural areas and among poorer and less-educated women. However, wealth and education exhibit diminishing marginal returns, suggesting heterogeneous impacts across socioeconomic subgroups. Nonlinear effects reveal that the relationship between age, family size, and contraceptive use is subject to diminishing returns, with uptake decreasing as women age or as family size increases. Marginal effects analyses further emphasize the law’s targeted success in addressing access gaps, particularly in underserved populations. Despite these gains, persistent inequalities remain, highlighting the need for enhanced policy interventions. Future research will explore secular trends, regional church influence, and robustness checks using advanced methodologies such as Difference-in-Differences (DiD) and synthetic cohort analysis.

Author

• Alexandra Casison, University of Pennsylvania