Religion-Specific Determinants and Patterns of Family Planning Methods Among Reproductive Aged Women in India Using NFHS Data

Universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services through family planning programs impacts women’s health by facilitating contraceptive use to delay, space, and reduce pregnancies. Despite India’s high population, there’s a notable absence of recent attention to religion-specific determinants, trends, and patterns in contraceptive use. Using NFHS-4 (2015–2016) and NFHS-5 (2019–2021) data, employing descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, and multivariate decomposition analysis, the study explores differential trends, spatial patterns, and determinants of contraceptive methods among Hindu and Muslim women. Findings indicate increased contraceptive usage among Hindu women, with a 3.09% rise in traditional methods and a 6.38% increase in modern methods. Conversely, Muslim women saw a 7.1% growth in modern methods and a 3.98% rise in traditional methods. The overall difference in contraceptive use increased by 7.9%. Factors influencing higher prevalence include urban residence, lower education, higher economic status, older age, and increased parity. Regional variations highlight differing preferences, emphasizing the need for targeted education programs. The study underscores the necessity for policymakers to consider religious perspectives on family planning knowledge, attitudes, and practices to address disparities effectively.