Knowledge and Use of Birth Control in Barbados

Based on material collected in Barbados in 1964, this paper examines knowledge and use of birth control in terms of three types of family union-married, common law, and visiting. Analysis of knowledge of birth control is dealt with for the sample at large, for educational attainment, and for the average number of methods known by each woman. The relative importance of the different methods known is also treated by family type and education.The extent to which women in the sample make use of birth control is discussed from four aspects. First, the growing use of the different methods among younger-age cohorts is made evident from tabulations of methods-last-used. Second, information on the agencies and individuals recommending the use of different contraceptives emphasizes the degree to which the partner's influence is responsible for resort to birth control. Third, the proportions of users in religious groups show that religion is not a barrier to the use of any method. Fourth, the material is treated from the standpoint of age cohorts, since there is, in many cases, a vagueness as to the age at which use began, although women are able to identify the inter-pregnancy period when use began.