ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the trend in contraceptive method use in Peninsular Malaysia over the period 1961–1975 among women 35 years of age or younger and examines the influences on their method choices. Using data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey, it explains the extent to which family planning clinics and socioeconomic variables contributed to increased use of contraceptives in general, and of modern methods in particular. The chapter describes the data, discusses changes in the contraceptive methods used over the period, and presents a multivariate analysis of influences on contraceptive method choice. It summarizes the findings and discusses their implications. Once contraception was more readily available through family planning clinics, couples apparently began using it for spacing also and the desire to have no more children was not so strong a determinant of whether contraception was practiced, though it was still very important.
