Knowledge of contraceptives: An assessment of world fertility survey data collection procedures

The paper assesses which method of collecting data on knowledge of contraceptives is preferable; the open-ended question approach in which knowledge of all methods is obtained from the answer to a single open-ended question, or the method-specific approach, in which specific questions are asked about knowledge of each method. Data from countries participating in the World Fertility Survey are used as a basis.

The analysis indicates that knowledge obtained from answers to method-specific questions would be higher than that obtained from answers to a single open-ended question. For some generally well known and up-to-date methods like the pill and the IUD the difference between the results of the two methods of questioning would not, however, be large. For methods like rhythm, withdrawal, condom and other less effective methods the differences would be staggering.

Statistics on knowledge tabulated by ever and current use of a method are used to establish that the open-ended question approach is actually deficient. From these statistics it is also established that the method of questioning on knowledge directly affects the reported levels of ever and current use.

Reported levels of use would be considerably lower if knowledge were to be obtained through an open-ended question only, as compared to use levels obtained after a series of questions on knowledge of specific methods. The results indicate that there is no easy method for obtaining good information on knowledge and use of contraceptives. The results of any ‘quick and dirty’ method of questioning, so often used in surveys which do not aim at the detailed study of contraception, cannot, therefore, be trusted. Furthermore, any comparison of data on knowledge and use of contraceptives will depend on the degree of comparability of the type of questions used.